EXPLAINED: The Inverness memorial honouring workers who have died doing their job

Remember The Dead – Fight For The Living, states the inscription on a stone memorial at a prominent spot by the River Ness.

On Friday, it will be the focus of a poignant ceremony as those who have died at work, or from work-related injury and diseases, are remembered on the annual International Workers' Memorial Day.

The memorial, located at Friars Shott in Huntly Street, was installed in 2017 following efforts by Inverness and District Trades Union Council.

It was funded by the trade union movement, the Inverness Common Good Fund, Highland Council’s ward discretionary budget and private contributions.

Made of Caithness stone, it has been designed as a place where people who have lost a loved one or a friend at their place of work can sit and reflect.

It is understood to be the only such memorial with an English inscription plus Gaelic wording.

Retired trade unionist and construction worker Bill Anderson was among those who long campaigned for the memorial.

At the time of its installation, he said it was a place for everyone.

"I hope people will recognise the fact that there are people who go off to work in the morning and don’t return to their loved ones at the end of the day," he reflected at the time.

On Friday, it will be the focal point of an evocative ceremony as part of an international day of remembrance and action which takes place annually on April 28 for workers killed, disabled, injured, or made unwell by their work

It is also an opportunity to highlight the preventable nature of most workplace incidents and ill health and to promote campaigns for improvements in workplace safety.

During last year's event, Catriona Lockhart, of Dornie, spoke movingly about her fight for justice after her partner, Clive Hendry, drowned after being crushed between two boats while working at a fish farm.

• I am here to remember the dead and to fight like hell for the living

This year’s event, which starts at 12.30pm, will focus on remembering those health, social care and other key workers who died during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wreaths will be placed on the memorial by trade unionists and others and there will also be speeches and a minute's silence.

Sean Robertson, an NHS rep for GMB Scotland said members of the public are invited to join trade unionists and politicians from across the political spectrum to remember workers who have died doing their job.

"The motto of International Workers Memorial Day is ‘Remember the dead, fight for the living’ and the point of the service on Friday is to do exactly that," he said.

"We need to focus minds in the trades union movement and across society so that we can learn the lessons of the last three years and ensure that we are fully prepared for a pandemic in future in terms of health and safety and public services.

"It cannot be acceptable to allow workers to go without vital PPE (personal protective equipment) or for public services to be under resourced as they were before covid now that we have seen the consequences first-hand."

On Saturday, trade unionists, politicians and community campaigners will hold a May Day rally in Falcon Square, starting at 12.30pm.

Speakers will include Inverness MP Drew Hendry, Philip Stott of the Scottish Trades Unionist and Socialist Coalition (Scottish TUSC) and representatives of the the EIS teachers union, RMT railway workers union, CWU postal workers and GMB Scotland,

Leah Ganley, secretary of Inverness TUC said: "The government is attacking workers and communities. Workers’ right to strike is under threat, public services are being cut and wages aren't keeping up with the skyrocketing cost

of living, among a myriad of other crises.

"We deserve better. It's time to say enough is enough. If you're in a union, political party, campaign or community organisation and want to fight back come along and make your voice heard."

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.