Council workers across North Yorkshire paused for a minute silence yesterday, 28 April 2020, on International Workers’ Memorial Day, to remember workers who have lost their lives at work.

Every year, UNISON members and trade unionists around the world mark International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April, committing themselves to “remember the dead and fight for the living”. This year there was a particular focus on workers in the UK and across the world who have died from the Coronavirus whilst working on the frontline across public services.

In Northallerton, at County Hall, our Branch Secretary Wendy Nichols, joined with North Yorkshire County Council’s Chief Executive, Richard Flinton, to mark the silence with other council workers whilst maintaining social distancing requirements.

Wendy Nichols said: “The country observed a minutes silence on Tuesday 28 April at 11am on International Workers’ Memorial Day, an event that has taken place for many years to remember all those workers who have lost their lives carrying out their work.

“This year was even more poignant as the country battles Covid-19. Our thoughts are with all those Key Workers who have lost their lives. The silence is a simple show of respect for those who have paid the very highest price, and to show solidarity with their loved ones. We hope that their loved ones will know the huge level of gratitude we feel as a nation and take some comfort from that.

“UNISON led the way in calling for a national silence this year, along with our colleagues in the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Nursing. We felt that this year, in particular, it was important to bring the country together to remember especially our public service workers who have sadly died on the frontline fighting the virus.”