Europe: Young unionists to campaign against work-related deaths

European young unionists vowed to raise and strengthen their voices against the rising number of work-related deaths as part of this year’s International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on 28 April. 

In an online meeting last 7 February, the European Youth Committee pledged to support BWI’s IWMD campaign by lending their talent and creativity in designing campaign posters which they said will carry a youth-specific theme and message. 

The youth leaders also planned their activities for the year leading to BWI’s Global Congress in October, and shared updates on their respective countries’ COVID-19 restrictions and their impact on trade union organising and activities. While many said that their countries have started to lift restrictions and allowed face-to-face activities, the relatively high number of infected people still pose a serious threat to various recovery efforts. 

Aside from the IWMD, the European young trade unionists decided to prioritise this year’s Labour Day celebration on 1 May. They also reminded their young members to heed BWI’s action call to join the International Women’s Day on 8 March.