REMEMBERING THE KILLED AND INJURED VITAL FOR SAFER WORKPLACES

28 April 2010

The struggle for safer workplaces has not diminished with the demise of the Howard government and its odious WorkChoices laws, SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says.

Ms Giles says 2010 International Workers Memorial Day this year focuses on the fight for the highest possible safety standards, which are in danger of going backwards under national "harmonisation" plans.

Ms Giles says the push for consistent national standards risks South Australia's Occupational Health and Safety laws being eroded to a lowest common denominator model.

"We want safer workplaces.  We can't afford to go backwards", Ms Giles says.

"April 28 is when we remember the dead, but just as importantly, we fight for the living."

"There's no room for complacency - those who died as a result of workplace accidents and injuries paid the ultimate price for poor standards.  We owe it to them and their families to do what we can to prevent others meeting the same terrible fate", she says.

A church service will be conducted at St Stephen Lutheran Church (152 Wakefield Street) at 10.30 am, ahead of a rally by construction workers and other union members to galvanise public support for better safety at work (12 noon Victoria Square).

SA Unions is proud to announce a new arts project to commemorate the deceased.  The "life quilt" project is a collaborative effort to create a large quilt to be made by those who have loved ones in workplace related deaths.  The project aims to be completed by the end of the year.

"Nothing can bring back those we've lost, but hopefully we can heighten awareness of the need for safe workplaces - saving lives, saving jobs, saving money and building a safe strong community", Ms Giles says.