A permanent memorial to workers could be installed in East Renfrewshire following calls from the SNP.
Cllr Annette Ireland, SNP, also urged the council to agree to organise a commemoration event for Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28 every year.
Her motion, presented at a full council meeting last week, expressed concern “that more people are killed at work than in wars every year”. It asked the council to “investigate an official cairn to recognise the workers lost here in East Renfrewshire”.
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However, an amendment from Labour, supported by the Conservatives, was passed which referred the matter to the council’s civic hospitality committee.
Cllr Ireland, a former shop steward, said she was “saddened” by the amendment. “I think we are more than capable of discussing the merits of it here tonight,” she added.
“For 33 years now, April 28 has been the day that people around the world pause, remember and commemorate those that have lost their lives in the workplace from work-related injury or disease and renew their pledge to improve workplace conditions for the living.”
Cllr Ireland said all of East Renfrewshire’s neighbouring councils commemorate the date as she praised the “amazing men and women we have working for us who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and continue to do so”.
She called on the UK Government to pursue stricter enforcement of health and safety laws and said the “Tory right wing has been given a new opportunity from Brexit and there certainly appears to be a drift towards an extreme form of self-regulation” and a “race to the bottom”. “We have battles ahead, as do our unions, in defending and protecting workers’ health and safety.”
Cllr Katie Pragnell, Labour, said: “We are not saying we are opposed to this, we are saying it should be brought to the civic hospitality committee.
“I know previously similar memorials have been brought to this committee and I think it’s up to them to discuss where the memorial should go etc.”
And council leader Owen O’Donnell, Labour, added: “I believe there is cross-party support for this initiative, but I’m not convinced the way the SNP has approached this is the best way to get rapid agreement on things.
“Why don’t you come and speak to people rather than communicate via motion? I’m not sure that’s the most appropriate or professional way to approach this situation.”
However, Cllr Ireland said: “What I have heard is everybody supports this, they just don’t want to say yes tonight. Even though we all know the civic hospitality committee is where this would go if we passed it tonight.”
Cllr David Macdonald, independent, said: “I find it staggering that we are actually witnessing what appears to me to be an amendment that is thrown up for no other reason than to defeat an SNP motion. When we’re talking about collaborative politics, I find that deeply disappointing.”
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