FOR RELEASE
Green Party North Down Councillor Barry McKee has commented ahead of International Workers Memorial Day.
Barry, who is a GMB Union representative, said:
“Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. This year the Covid-19 crisis has brought into sharp focus the dangers posed to workers right across society.
“Today and every day over the past few months we have asked frontline workers to risk their health and safety to serve their communities. Often, they’ve entered the fray without the necessary Personal Protective Equipment.
“These brave men and women have been applauded and indeed lauded by Prime Minsters, First Ministers and citizens across Northern Ireland.
“The most appropriate way to say thank you is to provide the necessary PPE and roll out full support and assistance to workers today and into the future. I am mindful of the physical health of workers but also their mental health including the potential for post traumatic conditions.
“Only months ago many of these workers were described as low skilled by Home Secretary Priti Patel. The Covid-19 crisis has exposed these comments as crude and incorrect.
“On International Workers Memorial Day we remember those lives lost at work. We must organise collectively to ensure that key workers who are in the most danger in this crisis, are afforded the highest levels of support, recognition and safe working conditions from here on in.”
ENDS
Media Contact
Sinead McIvor - 07701 302 498
