Remember the dead — fight for the living
- Stefan Plesa
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
This year’s International Workers’ Memorial Day in Bridgwater was a strong and moving event that brought together trade union representatives, local speakers, chaplaincy support and members of the wider community to remember those who have lost their lives through work and to renew our commitment to those still living with the consequences of workplace harm.
The message running through the day was clear: workplace safety is not only about the injuries people can see.
Too often, when people think about danger at work, they think only about the obvious incidents — a fall from height, a crush injury, a serious accident, a broken bone. Those risks are real, and they must always be taken seriously. But they are not the whole picture.
Many workers are harmed more slowly through stress, fatigue, bullying, burnout, isolation and exposure to long-term hazards. Those injuries may not come with a bandage or a cast, but they are no less real. Harm is harm.
That was the tone set in the opening remarks by Branch Secretary Nick Halsall, who reminded everyone present that a worker should not have to be “physically visibly broken” before they are taken seriously. It was an important point, and one that stayed with the whole event.
Sam Thomas also spoke powerfully about mental health and suicide in construction. His message was direct and important: “Mental health isn’t separate from safety.” He also spoke honestly about the silence that still surrounds these issues in many workplaces, warning that “the silence is what actually causes the problem.” That is a truth unions must continue to confront. Workers should never feel that they have to suffer in silence just to hold down a job.
Councillor Brian Smedley brought Bridgwater’s strong labour history into the event, reminding everyone that this is a town with deep working-class roots and a proud tradition of trade unionism and collective action.
Ines Lage from TUC South West brought the wider trade union movement into the day with one of the clearest lines of the event: “There is nothing mad about wanting to come home alive.” That should be the most basic principle in any workplace, but it still needs to be said and defended.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham delivered a speech that linked pay, conditions and safety in exactly the right way. Her line, “What is the point of better pay if your conditions are killing you?” cut straight to the heart of the matter. She also rightly highlighted the long-term dangers workers face from asbestos, silica dust, welding fumes and the air many are expected to breathe day after day.
Muhammad Musa, speaking as a chaplain, added a thoughtful reflection on stress, wellbeing and the pressures people carry both in work and in life. His contribution helped underline an essential truth: workers are human beings, not machines, and health at work must be understood in the round.
What made the event so effective was its honesty. There was no drifting into vague language and no pretending that awareness alone is enough. The speakers made a straightforward argument. If work can injure the body, it can injure the mind. If a risk is real, it must be recognised. If harm is happening, it must be addressed before it reaches crisis point.
That is why trade unions remain essential. Unions give workers a voice, give them backing when they speak up, and keep safety, dignity and respect where they belong — at the centre of working life.
International Workers’ Memorial Day is always about remembrance. But it is also about responsibility.
Remember the dead. Fight for the living.
That remains the task.
Comments