Construction workers prepare to remember dead colleagues

Last year 77 construction workers died at work, 28% more than the year before.

The theme of this year’s event is “good occupational health for all workers”. Events will focus on remembering the dead and maintaining health and safety at work.

In London, the TUC will hold rallies at City Hall and the Health and Safety Executive’s headquarters on Southwark Bridge. Speakers are set to include Bob Crow of the RMT union and a representative of the Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group.

Labour MP Harry Cohen will speak to Ucatt’s London and South-east division near the Unknown Building Worker statue at the Tower of London. A black balloon will be released for each worker that has died in the past year.

Alan Ritchie, Ucatt’s general secretary, will speak in Liverpool to employees from firms including Balfour Beatty, Bovis Lend Lease, Carillion and Laing O’Rourke. In Birmingham, Unison and Unite will hold a two-minute silence. Scottish workers and Unite members will meet at George Square in Glasgow.