Falkirk communities asked to pause and remember those who have lost their lives at work

It comes as the country marks International Workers Memorial Day, held each year on April 28 to commemorate those who have lost their lives in workplace accidents or as a result of poor working conditions and to campaign for better safety. The event’s motto is ‘Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living’.

Unison, the Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives are urging people to take part in a national minute’s silence on at 11am on the 28th.

Falkirk Council has been asked to fly flags at half mast to mark the occasion and Falkirk Trades Union Council will be laying a wreath below a plaque commemorating International Workers Memorial Day in the foyer of the town’s municipal buildings at 11am.

Because of the current health crisis, it will not be holding its traditional ceremony, which has been held on the Saturday nearest International Workers Memorial Day for the last 15 years.

The shutdown has also delayed installation of the Workers Stone, a monument, created for the trades union council by apprentice masons training with Historic Environment Scotland and engineering students from Forth Valley College, to mark International Workers Memorial Day and the role working people have played in making the Falkirk area what it is today.

Falkirk Trades Union Council secretary Duncan McCallum said: “Throughout history working people have paid with their lives for the lack of proper protections in their workplaces, leaving families for a day at work, never to return. This special day was started to remember these people and to try to change things.

“However, his year it is vitally important that workers delivering essential public services across public, private and voluntary sector organisations receive widespread recognition for the efforts they are making to continue to provide care to those infected by the virus and other vulnerable people facing extended periods of social isolation.

“We should also remember transport, food producers and retail workers for their efforts in doing their best to ensure an adequate supply of food and other essential goods into our shops and supermarkets.

“Normally we would hold a minute’s silence at the start of our ceremony. This year we would ask people to pause at noon and think about the sacrifice of so many of the people involved in combating this deadly virus. We would also ask them to attach a purple ‘twibbon’ to their social media profile for the day."

The STUC intends to broadcast a short ceremony at noon on Tuesday which will be streamed to its Facebook page.