Workers' Memorial Day

International Workers' Memorial Day, held on 28 April every year, brings together workers and their representatives from all over the world to remember the dead and fight for the living.

Check the details below for what happened in 2023, and it is never too early to start planning next year's event. 

What happened in 2023

With the Retained EU Law bill threatening to sweep away decades of protections for workers, including long-standing health and safety laws like those preventing exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace, we must use this day to defend workers’ rights to a safe job.

In 2023 the theme was: Global: Organising for health and safety – a crucial part of union action

This is an important international day marked by the trade union movement to remember all workers who lost their lives to workplace illness or injury, and to recommit ourselves to fighting to keep workers safe: Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living!

Organise an event in your workplace/where you are

• If you have an event you would like to publicise on this page please contact Unite's team directly via email with details of the event, date (if not 28 April), time, location (preferably with postcode) and key contact whether email or phone.
• Register your IWMD event with the interactive map and find details of other events
• Access the TUC online memorial wall to remember someone who lost their life to work
• Ask your local council to sign up to our Stay Safe, Join a Union campaign

#IWMD 2023 events

Some of the events around the country to mark International Workers' Memorial Day 2023 

Cardiff - Workers' Memorial Day / Caerdydd - Diwrnod Cofiant y Gweithwyr
Friday 28 April, 10:00
Wales' National Workers' Memorial Day event
Unite House, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, Wales, CF11 9SD, United Kingdom

Refreshments followed by a short ceremony to lay wreaths at the National Workers' Memorial Stone with dignitaries including trade union leaders.

London Building Worker International Workers’ Memorial Day rally
Friday 28 April, 10:30
Building Workers Statue, Tower Hill, London EC3N 4DR (Nearest tube Tower Hill)
Further details contact: Mark Soave 07894 414599

Wreaths are laid here each year on April 28, International Workers Memorial Day, and a two minute silence is observed in memory of those who have suffered fatal injuries in accidents at work.

Manchester Workers Memorial Day Event
Friday 28 April, from 11:45
Abraham Lincoln Statue, Manchester, England, M2 5LF

Met  at Lincoln Square at 11.45am. Music with Claire Mooney, speakers from the trade union and labour movement, street theatre, reading of names and laying of wreaths followed by refreshments and reflection at the Peoples History Museum.

Coventry Trades Union Council event
28 April, 12:00-13:00
Coventry Cathedral Ruins, Priory St, Coventry CV1 5RN

Remember the dead and fighting for the living. Invited speakers included Frank Keogh, Unite; Amanda Gearing, GMB; an Amazon worker; and other union speakers. Please stand with us. More details email Coventry TUC.

JLR Worker's Memorial Day, Solihull
28 April, 12:00
Brueton Garden Solihull, Please note it is not the park, but the garden across from O'Neill's, Solihull, England, B91 3EN

The event was at noon on the 28 April with a number of speakers from JLR works' committee and safety committee.

Worker's Memorial Day, Birmingham
28 April, 12:30
St Phillips Cathedral (in the grounds) Colmore Row, B3 2QB in Birmingham City Centre

The event was at 12.30 on 28 April, there will be a number of speakers including Annemarie Kilcline West Midlands regional secretary from Unite, and Families Against Corporate Killing. Banners and wreaths welcome. 

Sheffield TUC International Workers Memorial Day event
Friday 28 April, from 12:30-13:15
Pinstone Street, Sheffield Town Hall, Sheffield, England, S1 2HH

Wreath-laying ceremony and speeches by the memorial tree outside Sheffield Town Hall.

Unite International Workers Memorial Day 2023 event
Unitas Stoke On Trent ltd, Alton House, Cromer Road, Stoke on Trent, ST1 6AY
On Friday 28 April 2023 at 12:30 there was a gathering in memory of lost workers at Unitas Stoke on Trent with a minute's silence and a few words spoken around the newly donated memorial bench. More details contact Mark Williams, Deputy Convenor and H&S Steward for Unite the union at Unitas.

South Kirkby and Moorthorpe town council commemoration
Friday 28 April, 18:30 onwards
Address: The Grove, Stockingate, South Kirkby, WF9 3QF

South Kirkby and Moorthorpe town council commemorate IWMD annually. This is an old mining area with the ceremony including the laying of wreaths at the miners’ statue dedicated to workers killed in the local pits. This year a plaque to David Jones a local lad killed on the picket line in the miners’ strike is being unveiled. Speakers include local MP Jon Trickett. After this the organisers are holding an event with a band and free food and people are encouraged to bring their banners.
Further details contact: Charlie Robinson 07841 202344

Preston Workers Memorial Day event
Saturday 29 April 11:45-13:30
Preston Flag Market, 4 Cheapside, Preston, England, PR1 2AP

Met on the Preston Flag market at 11.45 - with a welcome from the mayor, speakers from the local trade union and labour movement, a march to the Corn Exchange statue, the laying of wreaths, and then refreshments.

Share on social media

Download shareable graphics for use on social media. Remember to @unitetheunion on Twitter and Instagram and to use the hashtag #IWMD2023

Other resources

Download A4 posters below which you can print off and use in workplaces. Regions and branches can also order materials from the Unite publications library under folder Workers Memorial Day 2023, remember to sign in or register using Chrome.