At noon today, a group of around 50 people attended the annual Workers’ memorial in front of Sheffield Town Hall.
Sam Morecroft, President of Sheffield Trades Council, started proceedings by thanking everyone there for attending.
The combination of a faulty microphone and nearby construction work made it difficult to hear, but impassioned speeches concerning the rights of workers worldwide got through to those in attendance.
The theme of this year’s event was climate change. Morecroft said: “There is a direct link between rising temperatures and rising deaths in the workplace.”
Other speakers highlighted the dangerous conditions that healthcare workers are facing in Gaza, where only three of the 36 hospitals are still functional.
Another speaker, Jawad Kasrawi, spoke about the situation journalists face in the region. He said: “Over 100 journalists have died in Gaza trying to report the truth. We have to work together to pressure the government to protect journalists even in war-torn states like Gaza.”
The speeches and wreath laying lasted around 45 minutes. Proceedings were widely respected bar two hecklers walking past.
Around 25 wreaths were laid at the foot of the memorial tree, with groups ranging from South Yorkshire Communist Party to Irwin Mitchell Solicitors.