Every year on the 28th of April, people across Wales and around the world pause to mark Workers' Memorial Day—a solemn occasion to remember those who have lost their lives, been injured, or fallen ill as a result of their work. For the communities of Wales, this day is more than a moment of remembrance—it is a call to action, a reaffirmation of the right to safe, dignified work, and a reminder of the vital role that trade unions continue to play in defending those rights.
Wales, with its rich industrial heritage—from coal mining in the Valleys to steel production in Port Talbot—knows too well the human cost of unsafe working conditions. Generations of Welsh families have stories of fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters who went to work and never came home. Whether in the depths of a colliery, the bustle of a factory, or the strain of frontline healthcare, workers have too often paid with their lives for the profits of others.
Workers’ Memorial Day ensures that their sacrifice is not forgotten. That is why in Cardiff West there is a memorial to those who have lost their lives at work. The monument outside Transport House is reminder of this and why we must fight to make the workplace safer, fairer, and more just for all.
