Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) on 28th April commemorates those workers.
IWMD-CWU-poster-Workers-Memorial-Day-A3We are calling upon CWU Branches, Regions, Reps and Members to please support your local IWMD events and come together to remember those who have lost their lives to work, been injured or disabled and to further renew our trade union commitment to fight for the safety and health of the living and make workplaces and working methods safer.
TUC List of IWMD Local Events
The TUC has published the details of a list of local events across England and Wales which are taking place on 26th,27th & 28th April, these can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
International workers memorial day events | TUC
Scottish TUC List of Local Events
The STUC has published the details of a list of local events across Scotland from 25th April 2025 through to 28th April 2025
International Workers Memorial Day | STUC
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) WMD Event
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) will mark International Workers’ Memorial Day with a wreath laying ceremony IWMD Commemorative Tree in the grounds of Parliament Buildings on 29th April at 12:30pm, Stormont Estate, Stormont Ct, Belfast BT4 3LP For further details on this event email: info@ictuni.net
TUC Cymru have also organised a Wales’ National Workers’ Memorial Day event in Cardiff on Monday 28th April 2025 – 10:00 to 12:00
Wales’ National Workers’ Memorial Day event, Cardiff | TUC
Many more events will take place on International Workers Memorial Day 2025 which may not be officially listed. We therefore advise branches to make enquiries with local Trades Councils and other Trade Unions, Local Authorities, Hazards and other Campaign organisations for details of local IWMD events that Branches and Reps may further wish to support.
The link below is to a recent report from the Labour Research Department (LRD) which has been produced especially in time for IWMD 2025.
Counter intelligence? Artificial intelligence and workers’ health and safety | LRD
‘Light up Purple’ CWU campaign for IWMD
The CWU Northwest Region started the ‘light up purple’ campaign in the name of the CWU in 2022 by asking for landmarks, buildings, bridges to ‘light up for IWMD’ to remember the estimated 2.7 million workers who die globally each year because of occupational accidents or work-related diseases. A few of the many landmarks, buildings, bridges that will be lighting up purple on the 28th April 2025 are listed below
Fairfield General Hospital Bury, BL9 7TD
The Christie Hospital, Manchester M20 3DA
Rochdale Infirmary OL12 0NB
Chorley Town Hall, PR7 1DP
Salford Royal Hospital M6 8HD
Royal Oldham Hospital, England, OL1 2JH
The Blackpool Tower England, FY1 4BJ
Greystone & Archway Road bridges, Knowsley, L14
The Mersey Gateway Bridge, WA7 9DW
Salford Civic Centre Manchester M27 5DA
Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital BB2 3HH
For more information on the ‘Light up Purple for IWMD’ campaign please click on QR code link below.
If you are interested in more information on the Global IWMD events campaigns and further guides and news items, you can visit the 28April.org website which contains details of the hugely valuable work undertaken by Hazards magazine and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Finally, we are raising awareness of TUC endorsed Big Zoom solidarity meeting & Memorial Call to action in memory of Zane Gbangbola on International Workers Memorial Day
28th April 6 pm to 6.20 pm
Eleven years ago, 7-year-old Zane Gbangbola tragically died when the basement of his home in Chertsey was flooded with water from the Thames. There is very strong evidence that this allowed hydrogen cyanide gas from a former landfill site nearby to seep into the house. Hydrogen Cyanide is a colorless gas, which has in the past been linked to historic landfill sites. Andy Burnham has been a high-profile supporter of the family campaign for several years and he will be speaking at this online event.
Big Zoom in solidarity with the family of Zane Gbangbola | TUC