South Tyneside pays tribute on Workers' Memorial Day

Mayor Coun Olive Punchion and Mayoress Mrs Mary French joined union representatives in a Workers' Memorial Day service at South Shields Town Hall.

The service was led by Father Michael Weymes, of St Bede’s RC Church, and included a minute’s silence and the lighting of candles, symbolic of the lives lost.

"Workers’ Memorial Day is an incredibly important day," said Coun Punchion.

"It gives us a chance to pay tribute to all those who have died, been injured or left ill as a result of their work. We also think about the devastating impact on the families and friends that they have been left behind.

"It would be easy to think that work-related injuries or fatalities are a thing of the past, but sadly this is not the case. We still see tragedies here in modern times where people are innocently going out to work to earn a living and not coming home.

"Workers’ Memorial Day is also a time to raise awareness of the importance of safety at work and remind people about the needless loss of life, as so many workplace accidents and illnesses can be prevented."

Workers and their representatives all over the world conducted events, demonstrations, vigils and a range of other activities to mark the day.