Worker’s Memorial Day

Workers’ Memorial Day, started in the UK in the early 1990s with two aims: to ‘Remember the dead’ and ‘Fight for the living’.

Having originated in Canada and the Unites States, Workers' Memorial Day is now held on 28 April every year. All over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day and remember colleagues who lost their lives while at work.

CWU area safety representative, Darren Rowbotham from Exeter Delivery Office, has been supporting the event each year throughout the EX/TQ postcode area, mainly via one-minute silences, poster campaigns and the use of social media.

This year, with the joint support of Exeter Mail Centre, colleagues gathered at the plant on Sunday 28 April to show their respects. With the flag lowered to half-mast, they remembered those workers who have sadly passed away while at work.

The theme for this year was ‘Dangerous substances – get them out of the workplace’. Colleagues in Exeter Mail Centre have been focusing on the theme with ongoing building works to their welfare facilities and the work recently carried out with local cleaners to ensure the COSHH cupboards are kept locked and all chemicals are inaccessible. They are now focused on reviewing and improving how they deal with potential dangerous items in the mail.

‘The event was a success, everyone took something away from the day and joined in with the discussions,’ said Darren. ‘Having the support of the local Mayor of Exeter also added to the event as he shared stories and his support. Ideas around planning for next year’s event which will be held in a local delivery office, are already underway.’