Workers’ Memorial Day takes place every year to “remember the dead and fight for the living”. This year Emma Reynolds MP is joining the TUC in calling on health and safety representatives, trades councils and safety campaigners to make 28 April a day of action to defend health and safety.

Wolverhampton Trades Council holds an annual memorial at the Cenotaph in front of the Civic Centre and St Peters’ church. The Labour City Council lowers the civic flags to half mast, something the Tory-LibDem coalition refused to do when in charge of the Council. This service will take place at 12.30 on Saturday 28April.

Emma Reynolds MP said “Our health and our safety is under attack like never before and we must defend it, for our sake and that of future generations.

“Every year more people are killed at work than in wars and many more are injured or suffer from work related illnesses. Workers’ Memorial Day commemorates those workers. I add my voice to those of local trade unionists calling for stricter enforcement with higher penalties for breaches of health and safety laws.

“Some employers do the right thing and make health and safety a priority, others sadly do not, and workers pay the price.”

Nick Kelleher, Wolverhampton Trades Union Council Secretary said “Workers’ Memorial Day commemorates all those killed and injured at work and highlights the scale of the tragedy and what can be done about it. April 28, is marked in many countries around the world, where trade unionists remember those who have been killed and injured.

“We encourage all workers to join their trade unions. In trade union organised workplaces, it is a FACT that you are less likely to get injured or killed. ”