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| Solidarity with fallen workers at the Henry West Memorial |
Reading Trades Union Council organised the 2019 memorial service for fallen workers and those injured in the course of their employment duties on 28 April. RTUC delegates present were Steve Geary (USDAW), Sarah Hacker (Unite), Keith Jerrome (Unite), Dave McMullen (GMB), Ray Parkes (Unite), John Partington (TSSA), Chris Reilly (RMT), Sue Taylor (PCS) and Tanya Wills (Unite), with other attendees present.
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| RTUC President, Chris Reilly (RMT), opens proceedings |
RTUC President, Chris Reilly, opened proceedings by reflecting on the varied nature of workplace hazards, from historic ones involving asbestos and silica - the consequences of which are still being felt today - to risks around machine use, road risk and mental distress in the workplace.
Chris spoke about Henry West, at whose memorial in St Laurence's Churchyard the gathering took place. Henry was the first known fatality in Reading in the railway industry; a carpenter at Reading Railway Station, picked up in a whirlwind in 1840 and thrown to his death in a freak accident. His workmates paid for the memorial, three times renewed, at the station. To this day, on the old station building wall on platform 7, can be found a brass plaque remembering Henry's sad demise.
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| Keith Jerrome (Unite) |
Other speakers followed Chris, including Keith Jerrome, emeritus member of RTUC, who reflected on the evolution of working practices, with discussion had about safety legislation, personal protective equipment and the need to consult and agree on protection with the workforce in order to get staff support for its use.
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| The Henry West Memorial in Reading Railway Station |
