Trade unions in Hartlepool are inviting the local community to join in a special remembrance event on International Workers’ Memorial Day.
The annual Workers’ Memorial Day Remembrance Service and Wreath-Laying Ceremony takes place this year on Tuesday 28 April.
It commemorates those who have been either killed or injured in workplace accidents and aims to raise awareness among employers of the importance of effective health and safety procedures.
This year’s service and wreath-laying will again take place in Hartlepool College of Further Education in Stockton Street, TS24 7NT.
A lone Scottish piper will be playing at the College from 11.45am and will pipe people into the building at 12.20pm in time to take their seats for a one-minute silence at 12.30pm.
The speakers will include Steve Wright, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Sarah Woolley, General Secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), Dave Pike, Regional Secretary of the North East, Yorkshire and Humber Trades Union Congress (NEYH TUC), Lawson Armstrong, Regional Officer of the University and College Union (UCU) and Harminder Bains, Partner and Joint Head of the Industrial Disease Team at legal firm Leigh Day.
Following the service, over 50 wreaths will be laid at the College by organisations and members of the public attending the event, including Steve Wright, General Secretary of the FBU – who will lay a wreath on behalf of all workers - and the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool, Councillor Carole Thompson.
The wreaths will later be relocated to the side of the former Christ Church (Hartlepool Art Gallery) for public viewing.
The ceremony will end at about 1.45pm. Light refreshments will be available from 12 noon in Conference Room 3 in Hartlepool College of Further Education prior to the service and a light buffet will be available in Conference Room 3 following the laying of the wreaths.
Edwin Jeffries, President of Hartlepool Trades Union Council, said: “We’re hoping that people from across the region will join us again to honour those we’ve lost and support the continuing effort to make all workplaces safe.
“We especially welcome the families, friends and colleagues who come to remember loved ones who have died or been injured or made ill through their work.
“As always, we will be providing individual flowers so that anyone attending can lay a tribute in memory of someone special.
“Workers’ Memorial Day continues to remind us of our shared commitment to ‘Remember the dead and fight for the living.’ ”
For more information about the event, please contact Edwin Jeffries on 07813 073186 or email ejeffries73@gmail.com.
** In another ceremony to mark Workers’ Memorial Day, there will be a lowering of flags and wreath-laying ceremony in front of Hartlepool Civic Centre on Tuesday 28 April at 11am, beginning with a minute’s silence.
Wreaths will be laid by Councillor Carole Thompson, the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool, Matt Wilton, Chief Executive of Hartlepool Borough Council, and Edwin Jeffries, Secretary of Hartlepool Joint Trade Union Committee.