Today is Workers' Memorial Day, a day to remember those killed at work (http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-19529-f0.cfm).
I won't be able to attend any of the local events listed on the TUC website (http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-11563-f0.cfm#national).
While our movement cares about health and safety, the Coalition Government does not - it plans to cut the Health and Safety Executive's budget by more than a third with hundreds of job losses.
PCS have condemned plans to withdraw unannounced safety inspections across large areas of the economy to implement these cuts (http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/index.cfm/id/61070394-950E-49E8-8D3CA9F2F5F34D96).
UNISON has also warned of the likely impact of these cuts - and drawn the lesson that we need to step up organising for safety in the workplace (http://www.unison.org.uk/activists/pages_view.asp?did=12375).
Those of us who cannot get out to any of today's events can do our bit online by visiting the Government's "red tape challenge" website (http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/home/index/) to put the case against weakening or removing safety regulations.
To comment on health and safety regulations go to http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/health-and-safety/. Alongside predictable ill-informed complaints from "businesspeople" irritated that the law requires them to pay attention to the wellbeing of others, there are serious contributions in defence of sensible regulations.
It's not red tape that worries me as much as the hazard warning tape which will go up around the scene of the next avoidable workplace fatality.
Take a few minutes today to join that online debate - and tell the Coalition to keep their hands off our safety regulations!
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
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