On 28 April 2021, Reading Trades Union Council gathered at the graveside of Henry West, a victim of a workplace fatality at Great Western Railway in 1840, to mark International Workers' Memorial Day. Nikki Dancey (GMB), James Denny (RMT), James Parker (Unite), Chris Reilly (RMT) and Tanya Wills (Unite) represented RTUC, with guests joining from near and far.
As RTUC President, Chris made the main oration, which went as follows:
“Never has the IWMD been more important. Over the last year, the COVID19 pandemic has exposed an occupational health crisis in workplaces worldwide. Workers have been routinely denied even basic Health and Safety protections, consultation with safety representatives and safety committees on ‘Covid safe’ policies and practices in many industries has been non-existent, enforcement of Health and Safety legislation has mostly been a disgrace. These same problems existed before the pandemic and resulted in the deaths of millions of workers worldwide. The pandemic demonstrates why health and safety must be a right for everyone who works.
We could not have a starker reminder of the important role of Trade Union Health and Safety representatives in saving and protecting workers lives than the COVID19 pandemic.
Never before has the slogan of International Workers Memorial Day been more appropriate:
REMEMBER THE DEAD - BUT FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR THE LIVING!
Chris followed his statement with a reading of a poem:
Unusual Usual days and nights
Gazing through the windows at the sun, moon, rain
Workers readied themselves for work day and night
Kissed their husbands, wives, partners, children goodbye
Walked, rode their bikes, drove their cars, took the trains
They entered the factories, pits, building sites, mills
They pressed buttons, operated machines, used power tools
“Just another usual working day?”
However this was to be an unusual usual working day for some.
Soon some would operate no buttons, machines or tools
Never enter another factory, pit, building site, mill
Walk, ride bikes, drive cars or take trains
Would never feel the warmth of a loved one’s kiss
Nor husbands, wives, partners, children left behind
Never ready themselves day or night for work
Never gaze the sun, moon or rain through windows.
No usual working days or nights again for some.
