Over 60 people gathered at Edinburgh’s Workers Memorial Day Tree in Princes Street Gardens to commemorate International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April 2014.
The gathering mourned all those who have died through work, but in particular remembered the 30th anniversary of Bhopal, the 10th anniversary of Stockline, the first anniversary of Rana Plaza, the April deaths of 13 Sherpas (and those 3 still missing) on Everest and Keane Wallis Bennett at Liberton High School and worries about current and coming deaths among construction workers in Qatar.
The event was addressed by Alison Johnstone, MSP, Sarah Boyack, MSP, Eurig Scandrett of the Scottish Friends of Bhopal and Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Donald Wilson.
Tributes were made and flowers laid by union branches including Unite, Unison, NASUWT, NUJ, PCS and ETUC. Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council flags were lowered to half mast.
Edinburgh TUC and Scottish Hazards welcome this clear commitment from the Scottish Government, Parliament, the City of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Trade Unions to continue and strengthen our ‘fight for the living’.
Thank you to the 25 members of Protest in Harmony who sang beautifully on Monday and whose voices have become such an integral part of Edinburgh’s Workers’ Memorial Day commemorations.