Workers’ Memorial Day

30.04.10 - Helen

This week, the media hype has been all about the debate last night. But Wednesday was also Workers' Memorial Day, when Trade Unions across the country remember those who have died at work and vow to continue fighting for the living.

This year, 1600 people have died at work in Britain, and in too many cases, it was because their employer decided that their safety wasn't a priority. As Johann Hari reminds us in the Independent today - they are people like Michael Adamson, a 26-year-old electrician who went to his job one day and was given a massive electric shock because his employer hadn't bought a £12 piece of safety equipment.

In spite of this, David Cameron wants to take away the weak protections that workers currently enjoy at work. He wants companies to undertake independent safety audits, so they can  "organise their own inspections" - carried out by a team of their choice. Despite UCATT, the construction workers' union, warning that the policy would increase workplace deaths, the Conservatives have confirmed that, if elected, they will press ahead with the plans.

On Tuesday, UCATT were protesting outside Tory HQ. Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “The Conservatives are playing politics with workers’ lives. By privatising safety inspections the Tories are endangering the lives of construction workers."

As is to be expected from the Conservatives, this policy is about putting people before profit.

Last night Gordon Brown said "it's your future on the ballot paper". If Cameron ends up the winner at the ballot box, we'll be the losers at work.