Today is Workers' Memorial Day

April 28^th is marked by trade unionists and others around the world as International Workers’ Memorial Day- dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives whilst carrying out their job; and campaigning to ensure safer workplaces and an end to deaths at work.

Never has it been more vital to remember and honour those who have fallen in the course of simply doing their job than this year- when so many front-line and other working people have fallen victim to Covid-19-  like MICHAEL WINCHESTER-  housekeeping supervisor at the DGH, taken at just 51 years old.

NHS and social care services, education, retail, fire and policing services- in fact every sector of our economy, every industry, every community has had to mourn those taken too soon by this dreadful virus. 

Trade Unionists in Eastbourne will be raising awareness of this day, and asking local people to remember all those who have died in the pursuance of their job- whether those who fell to Covid-19, or in other workplace accidents or related illnesses- such as 

• JACK PHILLIPS-  workman, 24, killed after being struck by a heavy object falling from Eastbourne's South Cliff Tower in 2019.
• STEPHEN PENRICE - Maintenance worker, killed in a fall whilst working on repairs to Eastbourne Pier in 2014;
• ROY TRUNDELL- Eastbourne Buses employee- killed in a workplace accident in 2008;
• DANIEL HAFFENDEN – Self-employed tyre fitter, killed whilst working on a tourist coach when a jack collapsed, in 2012
• CLIVE BECK - former Ratton School teacher- died of Mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos at the school;
• BOB TOLLY - Eastbourne gas fitter- died 2006, also of Mesothelioma. Exposed to asbestos during his working life.
• GEOFF WICKER and BRIAN WEMBRIDGE East Sussex firefighters killed in action fighting a blaze at a firework factory near Lewes in 2006. (Their families had to wait for almost 10 years of court wrangling to receive justice

We are respectfully asking if local workplaces, churches and places of worship would be willing to spare a moment of their thoughts and prayers on 28^th April or near to that, to remember all those, both locally, nationally and worldwide, who have lost their lives at work.