Today is International Workers Memorial Day, #IWMD, on which all people who have lost their lives at work are remembered - and this year it is taking on extra poignancy with the focus on front line workers who have died during the coronavirus crisis.
At 11am today, there is to be a one minute's silence called for by trade unions UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives...
"This is the ultimate tribute to remember workers who've lost their lives and put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe and vital services running" says UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis "Every year the sacrifice of workers around the world is recognised, but this year has a special significance because of the pandemic.
"Thousands of key staff are on the frontline while the rest of us are in lockdown" he adds "That's why we've issued this call for the whole country to take part and remember the sacrifices they've made. The best tribute we can all pay them is to stay inside to protect the NHS. The minute's silence is a thank you to all the workers including nurses, midwives, cleaners and care staff who've died from this devastating virus."
Chief Nursing Officer Ruth May adds: "Every death is a tragedy but we feel the loss of fellow health and care workers particularly keenly. I want people across the NHS and the whole country to come together and remember health and care workers who have lost their lives to this cruel virus."
Karen Reissmann, Mental Health Nurse and NHS campaigner from Bolton explains: "Workers Memorial Day is a real chance for us to recognise and remember those who have lost their lives working to save others from the terrible Covid 19 virus. But Workers Memorial Day is also an opportunity for us to fight for the living.
"We have all seen reports of NHS and Social Care staff working without the proper PPE (Personal Protection Equipment ) needed to keep them safe" she adds "NHS Trusts and care homes are saying they don't have sufficient supplies to keep their staff safe. The Government have had three months to plan and too much time has already been wasted. We're demanding that PPE is sourced from wherever possible. If necessary the government should take over factories to repurpose them to make what we desperately need. Otherwise the numbers of NHS staff who have died unnecessarily will continue to grow. We must both Remember the Dead AND Fight for the Living."
So far, 82 NHS staff are known to have died after testing positive for coronavirus.
As well as the minute's silence, there's also a Zoom event at noon organised by GM Hazards Centre and a 'live' memorial outside Tesco/TGI Fridays entrance in Prestwich – for details see previous Salford Star article – click here
For details of the one minute's silence see the Facebook event page - click here
Meanwhile, Salford cases of the virus have climbed by 11 to 558, up from the previous day's 547. And for the first time is a while, Salford Royal Hospital announced no new deaths from the virus, although this could be a reporting anomaly after the weekend.
Manchester still has the highest number of cases in Greater Manchester as its number goes over one thousand, to 1,011, followed by Stockport on 765, Bolton 711, Wigan 580, Oldham 570, Trafford 553, Tameside 430, Bury 425 and Rochdale 414.
Update: 1:30pm - Salford Royal Hospital workers and trade unions pay tribute to staff who have died at work - click here
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