Mark Thomas
CAMPAIGN IWMD
TOWER HILL – ‘Dangers are still there’
At the heart of Unite construction sector’s International Workers’ Memorial Day commemorations is its annual event at Tower Hill in London. Every year, Unite construction members gather by the Building Worker statute, lay wreaths and release black balloons, one for every construction worker killed at work in the last year.
In a year that saw deaths in the construction industry climb, speakers recognised the role trade union health and safety reps play in making workplaces safer and demanded better access to all workplaces.
Unite regional coordinating officer for construction Vince Passfield recalled the devastating statistics of deaths in the sector – 45 in the last year alone.
Highlighting the recent death of George Gilbey, an electrician famed for appearing in Gogglebox after falling through a skylight while working on a roof, Vince added, “It takes a celebrity death to make the national news, when nearly one person dies every week in the building industry.
“It is a disgrace that companies put profit before safety, and a disgrace that some employers still block access to trade unions for their workforce – despite unionised workplaces being recognised as safer workplaces.”
This was a theme taken up by Steve O’Donnell, Unite regional secretary for London and Eastern region. Steve said, “As trade unionists it is incumbent on us to fight for safer workplaces across the country.
“With worker deaths rising, trade unions should be there to make sure they are safer, and it is a disgrace that we have to fight tooth and nail to get union health and safety reps on sites.”
Wreaths were laid at the base of the Building Worker statue by scaffolder Dave Watson and apprentice electrician Chloe O’Brien, who left a job in retail to train to be a fully qualified electrician.
Chole said, “I’m in the last year of my apprenticeship and I’ve completed Level 2 and 3 training and moving on to the NVQ diploma. The training we
Dave Watson and Chloe O’Brien
get makes you feel safer, but attending events like today shows that the dangers are still there.”
Trevor Simpson from the London Building Workers branch led a minute’s silence which was followed by the release of 45 black balloons, one for every construction worker who never made it home after a shift.
As the balloons rose into the clear skies over the Tower of London, everyone reflected on the need to always remember the dead, but to keep working to fight for the living.
‘‘ 22 unite buildingWORKER Autumn 2024
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