Tributes to lives lost over the year
Trade unionists from across Lanarkshire joined a minute’s silence, remembering workers who lost their lives over the past year.
Wishaw councillor Angela Feeney was one of the speakers at North LanarkshireTrades Council’s, InternationalWorkers’Memorial Day (IWMD) event.
Councillor Feeney, an NHS worker as well as an independent representative for the CentralWishaw ward, is a member of the UNISON union.
Commemorated throughout the world, the memorial day remembers those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury and diseases.
InternationalWorkers Memorial Day is officially recognised by the UK Government. More people are killed at work than in wars.
Taking place on April 28 each year, the 2021 Lanarkshire event went ahead online, with COVID-19 restrictions still in place.
Councillor Feeney spoke poignantly about the past year, and the heavy death toll on NHS and care workers who died with COVID.
David Hainey from rail and transport workers’ union RMT was also a speaker.
Heapplaudedtheworktradeunionshaddone in the past year in calling for better PPE for workers.
North Lanarkshire Council’s Provost Jean Jones laid awreathatSummerleeMuseuminCoatbridge marking the day in tribute to workers who have lost their lives.
UNISON Lanarkshire Health Branch also organised a small memorial event at Kirklands Hospital in BothwelltomarkIWMD.
NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive, Heather Knox and Chair of the Board, Neena Mahal were both in attendance.
Tragically, more than 850 health and social care workers lost their lives in the past year due to the pandemic.