International Workers Memorial Day

The impact of workplace fatalities was highlighted on International Workers Memorial Day, 28 April 2009, with 200 people from unions and bereaved families coming together in Melbourne to mourn the dead and fight for the living. The annual event is conducted by the VTHC in conjunction with Industrial Death Support and Advocacy (IDSA).

With this in mind, unions have initiated a campaign — Don’t risk 2nd rate safety — to ensure workers have the highest standard OHS laws resulting from the Model OHS law that is currently being developed. Unions are calling on the state and federal governments to not settle for second-rate laws. The VTHC is urging the Victorian Minister for WorkCover, Tim Holding, not to adopt some recommendations from the Review Panel published earlier this year.

The campaign is part of a national ACTU initiative, which supports the development of harmonised national workplace health and safety laws, but says it is essential the new laws deliver the highest standards and that the rights of every Australian worker are strengthened, not diminished.