Capital to mark Workers' Memorial Day

AN event is to take place in Edinburgh to mark International Workers' Memorial Day.

The event, at the workers' memorial tree on Princes Street Gardens, is expected to last one hour, from midday on April 28.

It is in recognition of people who have been killed, injured or made ill by their work.

Among the speakers at the event will be representatives of the trade union Unison. Unison members are expected to take part in a minute's silence.

Part of the campaign also involves working to try to have stricter enforcement of legislation, higher penalties for health and safety breaches, more inspectors at the health and safety executive, a new law for corporate killing to make it easier to prosecute negligent employers, new legal health and safety duties and more rights and powers for safety representatives. The campaign slogan is "remember the dead: fight for the living".

Unison is to ask that the event be marked on the council's intranet, with staff being invited to observe the silence. Council chiefs have also been asked to lower flags on council buildings.