The Leader of Milton Keynes Council has marked International Workers’ Memorial Day by paying tribute to all those who have lost their lives at work and vowed to continue to keep people safe.

International Workers’ Memorial Day is an annual event commemorating all those who lose their lives at work or through workplace injuries or stress. Due to the pandemic the annual gathering at MK Rose was not held for a second successive year.

However, Cllr Peter Marland, Labour Leader of MK Council, has marked the occasion and particularly highlighted the sacrifices made by those on the front-line against the Covid-19 pandemic over the past twelve months such as NHS staff, care workers and bus drivers.

He also pledged to continue to keep workers in MK safe and to support employers with changes to workplaces as lockdown eases while urging people to join a trade union.

Cllr Peter Marland, Labour Leader of Milton Keynes said: “International Workers’ Memorial Day is when we remember all those people who have died while doing their job or due to their work. Too many people still die due to unsafe workplaces or because of injuries or stress sustained at work.”

He continued: “International Workers’ Memorial Day is also about fighting for the living. Over the past year MK Council has kept people safe by doing things like ensuring PPE for care workers when the government failed. Now we will continue to keep people safe at work and as lockdown slowly eases and people return to their workplaces, we will work with employers to ensure are safe, as well as continuing to provide testing as people need it. I would also say that the best way for people to stay safe at work is to join a trade union.”

He concluded: “Today we are reflecting in particular for all those that have died keeping us safe or doing their jobs during the pandemic. Nurses, doctors, care workers, bus drivers or supermarket staff. We pay tribute to them all and all those who have lost their lives due to work.”