Over a dozen people gathered at the Agecroft Colliery monument this afternoon to remember miners who were killed or injured in the Irwell Valley pits. A list of tragedies, together with the names of those who died was read out, which included boys as young as 12.
"It's very important we remember our history" said Paul Kelly of the Irwell Valley Mining Project "We started putting flowers down and commemorating the miners exactly 25 years ago after the pit shut in 1990. We used to just attach flowers to the trees near the old entrance, then we got this monument a few years ago and now people can come here and remember their heritage. Otherwise it would have been forgotten forever."
Today's commemoration was the start of a week of worldwide events for the official International Workers Memorial Day on Thursday 28th April. In Manchester on that day there's going to be a rally in Albert Square, between noon and 1pm, organised by NW UNIONS, GM Hazards and FACK (Families Against Corporate Killers) with the theme Strong Laws. Strong Enforcement. Strong Unions.
"On 28th April across the world, millions of workers, unions and families stand together" they state "We remember all those killed at, and by, work and we fight for the living because no-one should ever die just for going to work. Almost all work deaths are due to employers' mismanagement.
"Evidence shows strong laws, strong enforcement and strong unions make work safer" they add "All now under government attack! Tory Governments over last six years have rolled back health and safety protections: cutting laws, slashing enforcement and attacking unions. We must fight together to stop this, for our own lives, our children and grandchildren's lives, or we will lose our hard-won health, safety and justice at work."
There will be music by Claire Mooney and speakers will include Ian Hodson President BFAWU, John Morgan, Manchester NUT, Joanne Hill, Families Against Corporate Killers, Margaret Poole, GM Asbestos Victims Support Group and Jim McMahon MP, Oldham West and Royton. A list of names of those killed at work will be read out, followed by a laying of wreaths and one minutes silence.
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