Tuesday 28th April 2026
12.30pm at the Workers’ Memorial Day Tree, Cenotaph, St Peters Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1TS
all welcome
We will be unveiling the new Workers’ Memorial Day Stone, which we have commissioned to be placed in front of the tree.
Event Programme:
- New memorial stone unveiling by Rob Marris UNITE WM/6150
- Keynote Speakers:
- Marie Taylor, President Wolverhampton TUC
- Tarnia Davies, nurse survivor of chemical exposure
- Louise Hepplestone, Thompsons TU solicitors
- Wreath Laying: A traditional tribute to remember those lost
- Spiritual Reflection: Led by Deacon Linda Gilson, Methodist City Centre Minister
Special Event: Memorial Stone Unveiling
This year’s ceremony features the unveiling of the newly commissioned Workers’ Memorial Day Stone. After 34 years, the original plaque has become difficult to see and its mounting rotted. Following discussions with the City Council, this new, prominent memorial will be placed in front of the Workers’ Memorial Day Tree.
It will be dedicated to the workers of Wolverhampton and Bilston, who have been killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work.
We are seeking donations from branches to meet the cost of this memorial to workers of Wolverhampton and Bilston, see https://wolvestuc.org.uk/workers-memorial-stone
Why We Gather:
Workers’ Memorial Day is an internationally recognised day to commemorate those who have died, been injured, or fallen ill due to their work. We meet to show solidarity and continue the fight for occupational health and safety as a fundamental right for every worker.
event listings
https://www.facebook.com/events/1131582549038877
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day-tickets-1985688227943
https://www.wherecanwego.com/item/e1565540
https://www.megaphone.org.uk/events/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day-3
https://allevents.in/wolverhampton/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day-28-april/80003636165897
https://www.ents24.com/wolverhampton-events/cenotaph/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day/7461816
Book overview
Tarnia Davies from Wolverhampton, had it all – a fulfilling career as a nurse and a life filled with purpose – until a deadly exposure to the toxic chemical glutaraldehyde turned her world upside down.
Misdiagnosed and dismissed, she struggles to prove her suffering is real.
As her condition worsened, Tarnia wrote this book to the shocking truth behind the chemical’s dangers and the widespread negligence surrounding it.
Tarnia will speak at this year’s event; her book is available from booksellers and online
2025 speakers:
Marie Taylor Wolverhampton TUC President
Warinder Juss GMB union and MP for Wolverhampton West
Chris Cooper UNISON Regional Health and Safety Officer
Andy Taylor UNITE
Louise Hepplstone Thompsons trade union solicitors
Deacon Linda Gilson Methodist minister
wreath laying
TUC Resource page https://www.tuc.org.uk/IWMD
IWMD 2025 theme: Occupational health and safety: A fundamental right at work.
This gives a wide range of topics, however they want to include an explicit additional focus on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitisation on occupational health and safety.
In relation to AI this could be used to mitigate monotonous work, however AI at work is increasing work intensification, monitoring and surveillance, generating negative impacts on mental and physical wellbeing, as workers experience the extreme pressure of constant, real-time micromanagement and automated assessment.
event listings:
https://www.facebook.com/events/638193678810037
https://allevents.in/wolverhampton/workers%E2%80%99-memorial-day-wolverhampton/80003200374737
https://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/wolverhampton/events/feature/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day-1742774368-8657/
https://www.ents24.com/wolverhampton-events/cenotaph/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day/7286984
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day-tickets-1298933518119
https://www.megaphone.org.uk/events/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day-2
https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Wolverhampton/Workers%E2%80%99-Memorial-Day-Tree%2C-Cenotaph/Wolverhampton-Workers-Memorial-Day/40870345/
https://www.wherecanwego.com/item/e1565540
“A New Deal for Safe Work”
speakers:
- Marie Taylor Wolverhampton TUC President
- Warinder Juss GMB Executive & Labour candidate for MP Wolverhampton West
- Sureena Brackenridge Labour candidate for MP Wolverhampton North East
- Linda Woods UNISON West Midlands H&S Committee
- John Welsby Black Country Urban Industrial Mission chaplain
+ wreaths laid by UNISON City of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton RMT, Thompsons Solicitors, UNITE WM/6150, Wolverhampton, Bilston and District TUC and family flowers.
Workers’ Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the UK Government.
We remember those we have lost. We organise in their memory.
2024 event listings
https://www.megaphone.org.uk/events/wolverhampton-international-workers-memorial-day-2024
https://www.facebook.com/events/780726300641443
https://allevents.in/wolverhampton/wolverhampton-international-workers-memorial-day-2024/80002015749230
https://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/wolverhampton/events/feature/workers-memorial-day-wolverhampton-1681082445-9515/
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wolverhampton-international-workers-memorial-day-2024-tickets-870478613967
https://skiddle.com/e/38188769
https://www.wherecanwego.com/item/e1482051/wolverhampton-workers-memorial-day
Wolverhampton’s Workers’ Memorial Day Tree was planted in 1992 by John Bird MEP, there is a plaque next to it.
After over 30 years, the plaque is looking the worse for wear and its wooden mounting has rotted away. Mounted low amongst ivy and other ground cover, is not clearly visible without almost stepping onto the bedding plants.
Workers’ Memorial Day memorials in other towns are much more visible and prominent and this is a bit of an embarrassment for our city. Our delegates have discussed it and are currently in discussion with the City of Wolverhampton Council regarding our proposals for improvement.
2023 WMDay event:
2023: our theme this year was “Safety for Workers is Safety for the Public”
speakers confirmed:
John Dunn, Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign
Warinder Juss, GMB/Thompsons
Si Goode ASLEF
John Welsby, Black Country Urban Industrial Mission
Sureena Brackenridge, Wolverhampton NE Labour Party
Pat McFadden MP Wolverhampton South East
with Marie Taylor President of WB&DTUC introducing the event
Keep railway stations staffed, opposing driver-only trains, demands for adequate PPE for health workers and improved training for firefighters, are all union campaigns fighting for their members, but also to keep the public safe.
GM Hazards have produced an excellent 5 min film on The Importance of Workers Memorial Day view at https://youtu.be/OB80D0MD0w0
Over 15,000 people of working age died in the pandemic. Many of those were key workers in high-risk workplaces in sectors such as health, social care, transport, food processing and textiles. BME workers were particularly hard hit, with BME men 57% more likely to be working in jobs with a higher mortality rate, and BME women 48% more likely.
28 April each year is when trade unionists remember those who die or are injured through their work and highlight how we fight for the living.
This year speakers were
Cnllr Clare Simm PCS
Di Weaver UNITE
Alan Hooper RMT
Mish Rahman Labour national executive
John Welsby Industrial chaplain Black Country Urban Industrial Mission
with Marie Taylor President of WB&DTUC introducing the event
and wreath laying at the Workers Memorial Day Tree
Please stay safe and we request at this event you wear a mask and socially distance. If you feel ill please don’t come but follow the event on social media.
Currently 1 in 14 of the population has Covid.
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Wolverhampton Workers’ Memorial Day Wednesday 28th April 2021 @ https://youtu.be/eb5hxYIAlv4 with contributions from:
Theme for 2020: This year’s international theme: Coronavirus – Stop the Pandemic at work
with contributions from:
FBU: Andrew Scattergood
GMB: Warinder Juss
PCS: Debra Mills, Cnllr Clare Simm, Bob Simm
UCU: Dr Grace Millar
UNISON: Paulette Whyte, Chris Pugh, Sharon Dixon, Adrian Turner
UNITE: John Oakley, Rob Marris, Andy Taylor
Wolverhampton TUC: Marie Taylor, Nick Kelleher
Pat McFadden MP Wolverhampton SE
Black Country Urban Industrial Mission: John Welsby
51minute film
Normal public events for April 28th were not possible because of measures to contain Coronavirus/Covid-19.
But marking International Workers’ Memorial Day has never been more important for workers’ lives and health and those of our families and communities.
The coronavirus pandemic affects every worker regardless of sector or locality. Tens of thousands of workers worldwide have died. More have fallen ill or continue to go to work risking their lives. Many workers are still attending work ill-equipped and without necessary safety measures in place.
We could not have a starker reminder of the important role of trade union health and safety reps in saving and protecting workers’ lives, than the current crisis we are living through.
While we may not be able to attend the memorial events which usually take place on IWMD, as public gatherings around the world are not advised or allowed; there are many ways trade union members can take part in our collective day of remembrance and solidarity.
Workers Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the UK Government.
We remember those we have lost. We organise in their memory.
last year: Sunday 28 April 2019
