Everyone around the UK is urged to take a moment tomorrow (Tuesday) to remember with a minute’s silence the health, care and other key workers who have died as a result of coronavirus.
The 11am silence – held on International Workers’ Memorial Day – will allow people to unite in paying respect for the lives of those whose work involved caring, saving lives and providing important services.
Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford will all be observing the minute’s silence. It’s hoped that all employers, politicians, those on lockdown and people at work will do so too.
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “For every minute this pandemic continues, people are making extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe and run our vital services.
“The least we can all do is spare a moment to pay our respects and show our gratitude to all the key workers who have lost their lives.”
The silence is also an opportunity to think about all those workers who are continuing to keep the country safe and functioning, says UNISON.
Notes to editors:
– The minute’s silence will be held at 11am tomorrow (Tuesday 28 April).
– The campaign hashtag for the minute’s silence is #neverforgotten.
– International Workers’ Memorial Day every year commemorates workers who have died around the globe.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.