World suicide prevention day ceremony urges, "Start the conversation"

Photo by Norman Adams, ACC photographer

A moving ceremony on World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September, at the Choose Life memorial tree in Hazelhead Park, Aberdeen, remembered all those who have lost their lives to suicide. 

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council, and chaired by President, Tommy Campbell, representatives of ATUC and unions were joined by Aberdeen's Lord Provost, David Cameron, to lay wreaths in memory of those lost to suicide and to demand action to address the causes and symptoms of poor mental health.

Tommy said: "It's very important that we all work together to prevent suicide. As part of World Suicide Prevention Day we wish to create awareness that suicide is preventable and by bringing people together we can show our support for all those affected by suicide. 

"Each  of us has a positive and helpful role to play in creating a society where everyone can be  supported and able to talk about their mental health."

There were  kind words of compassion from the Lord Provost, Jonathan Christie, Aberdeen City Council GMB shop steward, Kyle Griffiths Bilfinger Offshore Workers Unite shop steward, Kate Ramsden UNISON Rep and ATUC Joint Secretary and Gordon Walters, Aberdeen City Council  Unite Branch Chair, in memory of friends and work colleagues who were lost to suicide.

38th Anniversary of the Piper Alpha accident We will not forget

Tommy Campbell joins representatives of
offshore unions to remember Piper Alpha

Aberdeen Trades Union Council President Tommy Campbell joined Unite offshore branches representatives to lay wreaths at the Piper Alpha memorial service on Monday 6 June, 38 years on from the disaster, pledging never to forget and to continue the fight to make off shore workplaces safe and healthy.

Tommy said, "On the 38th anniversary of the Piper Alpha fatal accident, Aberdeen Trades Union Council asks that we all take time to remember the 167 workers who died. 

"Our thoughts are with the families, work colleagues  and friends of the 167 workers  who were tragically killed on 6th July 1988.

"The Oil and Gas offshore based Trade Unions and offshore workers know full well  that the  Piper Alpha fatal accident could have been avoided by the strict adherence to the Health and Safety measures."

He warned that the accident happened because of the cost-driven decisions to maintain and increase profits, resulting in 167 offshore workers being killed.
 

"When costs to the employers and profit increases for the shareholders become more important than workers safety then the  Piper Alpha fatal accident shows that its offshore workers and their families who pay the ultimate price.“

Tommy promised that Aberdeen Trades Union Council will continue to support all the offshore based Trade Unions who organise, campaign and fightback to make sure the offshore oil and gas industry has a safe working environment  so that all offshore workers can return home safely to their families and friends. 

ATUC remembers the dead and pledges to fight for the living at moving IWMD service

Aberdeen Trades Union Council hosted a moving International Workers Memorial Day service in the beautiful setting of the Persley Walled Gardens in Aberdeen on 28 April.

It was one of several in Aberdeen, including the Action on Asbestos charity’s International Workers Memorial Day service in Johnston Gardens, where a plaque was unveiled dedicated to the memory of our late ATUC President, Graeme Farquhar.

Aberdeen City Council also held an IWMD  service in Duthie Park when the flag there was lowered to half mast. (Photos of both these events are below.)

Chaired by ATUC President, Tommy Campbell, our ATUC event began with a minute’s silence to mourn all those who have lost their lives through their work, in this country and around the world.

We pledged to continue our fight to ensure that no one else is killed, injured or made ill at their work. In this country that means fighting for better Health and Safety legislation and enforcement. Across the world it means demanding that international law is observed in areas of conflict and countries flouting that held accountable by the international community. It also means ensuring that workers rights to safe and healthy workplaces are enforced internationally.

This year's theme focussed on mental health at work and suicide prevention.

Dignity at work must recognise additional challenges for women

Kate Ramsden

Congress slammed the disgrace that in the 21st century, toilet and welfare facilities are still not readily available to train drivers and other transport and logistics workers. STUC will convene a round table discussion to strategise for improvements.

This will specifically consider the particular issues facing women, such as pregnancy, menstruation and the menopause, as mover, ASLEF accepted the ATUC amendment calling for this.

Seconding, Kate Ramsden told delegates that it isn’t acceptable for any worker to have to suppress their need for the loo or use unsuitable containers.

“But clearly women’s needs for proper and readily available toilet facilities have to take into account additional considerations based on our biology.

“Menstruation, pregnancy and menopause all add to women’s needs to have regular access to hygienic toilet facilities and exacerbate the risks for us if these are not made available.”

She called for women to be in the room when the trade unions meet to coordinate their campaign.

Join us on 28th April to "Remember the dead, Fight for the living"

All trade unionists, community activists, families and friends, especially those who have lost loved ones to an industrial accident or industrial disease are invited to attend the International Workers Memorial Day 2026 events below.                                        

The Aberdeen Trades Union Council International Workers' Memorial Day wreath laying service will be held on Tuesday 28 April at 1pm in the Persley Walled Garden, Mugiemoss Road, Aberdeen AB21 9WH.  

The International Workers’ Memorial Day theme is to "remember the dead, fight for the living."

Tommy Campbell, Aberdeen TUC President said, "On International Workers Memorial Day we pay our respects and remember all those who have lost their lives through a workplace accident or an industrial related disease.

"Whilst we will always remember the dead, we reiterate our fundamental right and duty to fight for the living by ensuring that all workplaces are safe and healthier to work in."

Thank you to all workers providing vital services in the worst snow in a decade

Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) wishes to thank all the workers in Aberdeen City and across Aberdeenshire that went above and beyond in the Wintery conditions earlier in January to protect the citizens of the North East - especially the most vulnerable.

This is when the absolute value of public services and the workers who provide them is laid bare. We have heard many stories of NHS staff's valiant efforts to get into hospitals and health centres, carers going the extra mile to ensure vulnerable older people are not left isolated, the workers who plough the roads and pavements, out in all weathers, the emergency service workers braving the elements, and many many more. We thank all of you.

We recognise that the situation was made even more challenging by the cuts that councils and other public services have faced over 15 years of austerity. We have written to Aberdeen City Council to express our concerns at some of the unreasonable demands made on some, mainly low paid women workers, to get into their work when other colleagues were able to stay at home. 

With climate change we are likely to see more such severe weather events. Aberdeen Trades Union Council calls on all employers to ensure their workers are kept safe in providing services at these times and that the impact of cuts is identified to the Scottish Government to ensure that lessons are learned for the future.

ATUC and individual trade unions will continue to campaign for properly funded public services, for the health and safety of the workforce and for the benefit of the citizens of the North East of Scotland.

ATUC remembers Piper Alpha

Aberdeen Trades Union Council President and delegates attended a moving memorial service commemorating the 37^th anniversary of the Piper Alpha fatal accident.

Laying a wreath on behalf of ATUC, at the Piper Alpha memorial, in the Memorial Gardens in Hazelhead Park, President, Tommy Campbell said, "Our thoughts are with the families, work colleagues and friends of the 167 workers who were tragically killed on 6th July 1988."

He added, however, that as we remember all those who died we must never forget that this offshore accident could have been avoided as it was caused by inadequate maintenance and safety procedures by the operator Occidental.

 

Tommy warned that the oil and gas industry is still driven by cost reductions, with cutting corners and jobs being lost to save money to further increase the massive profits of the offshore oil and gas Operators.

 

"When oil and gas Operators prioritise fiscal matters above the health and safety of offshore workers, the devastatingly fatal Piper Alpha disaster serves as a haunting reminder as to the consequences of these decisions with devastatingly catastrophic consequences for the offshore workforce, their families and their communities. 

ATUC honours the memory of former President, Graeme Farquhar

Friends, colleagues and family of the late Graeme Farquhar gathered in the ATUC office and online on Friday 11 April to honour Graeme's memory and his legacy. 

Others unable to attend sent in heartfelt tributes to Graeme, a Unite activist and former President of the Aberdeen TUC. He died on 23rd October 2024 at the young age of 64.

Graeme's widow, Hazel was presented with an award in recognition of Graeme's work in the field of health and safety.

There was a comprehensive talk by Steve Dillon, Unite Lead Officer for the Scottish Construction Industry and good friend of Graeme's. He spoke on the scourge of blacklisting and about the main Health and Safety issues affecting the lives of construction workers today.

Rainy but very moving International Workers' Memorial Day ceremony

Despite the rain, the International Memorial Day (IWMD) ceremony in the beautiful surroundings of Persley Walled Gardens was well attended and very moving.

Wreaths were laid from many unions and organisations to remember all those who died at their work and to pledge to continue our fight for the living. The provost of Aberdeen laid a wreath on behalf of Aberdeen City Council whilst Kate Ramsden laid the wreath on behalf of ATUC.

We are grateful, as always to Norman Adam, ACC photographer for these photographs.

Kate Ramsden lays wreath on behalf of ATUC

The ceremony was chaired by Vice President, Kathleen Kennedy, who called for a minute's silence to remember all those killed at their work. In doing so she paid tribute to two of our own who died last year, Ron Webster and Gerry McCabe.

Aberdeen City Council provost, David Cameron was the first to speak. He reminded us of the international context to the event and spoke of the importance of campaigning for workers’ health and safety not only in this country but also across the world, highlighting countries like Bangladesh where regulation is lax.

Join us at International Workers' Memorial Day and "remember the dead, fight for the living"

Representatives from the affiliated Trade Union branches of Aberdeen Trades Union Council, Action on Asbestos, Thompsons Solicitors and Aberdeen City Council will commemorate International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) on separate events on Friday 26th and Sunday 28th April at the locations listed below.

The International Workers’ Memorial Day theme is to "remember the dead, fight for the living."

Kathleen Kennedy, Vice-President of ATUC said, "On International Workers Memorial Day we pay our respects and remember all those who have lost their lives through a workplace accident or an industrial related disease.

"Whilst we will always remember the dead, we reiterate our fundamental right and duty to fight for the living by ensuring that all workplaces are safe and healthier to work in."

IWMD Aberdeen Events

Risk assessments must take account of climate change

Kate Ramsden

#STUC24 Congress backed Aberdeen Trades Union Council’s call for mandatory workplace based climate hazards risk assessments to deal with the changing risks that climate change has brought.

It will also campaign for a specific maximum working temperature law now that high temperatures are a growing feature of our climate.

Moving the motion, Kate Ramsden reminded delegates that Scotland’s climate is changing and last June was the hottest on record.

“All this affects our members at their work - sweltering under temperatures above 40 degrees C in work vehicles and buildings - well in excess of what we are normally used to.

“As a country we need employers to adapt to climate change and to severe weather events to keep the public and our members safe at their work.

“Unions and trades councils are in a great position to engage with our members and public and private sector employers to negotiate and campaign for workplace based climate hazard risk assessments.

She called on the General Council to build on the excellent Adaption Scotland Climate Hazards and Resilience in the Workplace resource to keep it fit for purpose and to ensure activists are trained on it.

Moving workers memorial day service remembers dead and pledges to fight on for living

Photo by Norman Adams

Aberdeen Trades Union Council hosted a very moving Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony at the beautiful Persley Walled Garden in Aberdeen on Friday 28 April 2023.

Chaired by President, Graham Farquhar, those gathered laid wreaths to remember all those killed, injured or made ill at their work. Wreaths were laid by many trades unions and community groups as well as by ATUC and Aberdeen City Council.

Trade union speakers and politicians all spoke powerfully of the importance of keeping up the fight for proper health and safety legislation and regulation and called on us to "remember the dead, fight for the living."

Joyce Davies

We were joined by Joyce Davies whose father was killed when she was 8 in the James Watt Street fire in Glasgow in 1968 when 22 people died in a furniture factory. Joyce spoke poignantly on the huge impact it has had on her life, highlighting that a death at work has a wide-reaching effect on family and friends and across generations.

It brought powerfully home the importance of keeping up the fight for decent health and safety laws and regulation and the need to hold employers to account here and across the world.

There followed a minute's silence to remember and mourn the workers who went to their work and never came home, and to reflect on the impact on families and communities.

More photos below

Qatar legacy must not forget workers killed and their families

Congress was warned that although the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is over, the impact continues on the families of those who died in the construction of the stadiums or those who were injured.

Aberdeen Trade Union Council’s motion called for a high profile campaign to keep up the pressure on the Qatari government to pay compensation to these workers and their families.

Moving the motion, ATUC delegate, Scott Sutherland told Congress that the motion seeks to consolidate the Qatar resolution adopted at last year's STUC Conference in Aberdeen.

“The football World Cup is over, but its legacy remains.” He warned that FIFA and the Qatari Authorities want us to remember a major sporting event to be proud of.

“However,we remember their legacy for different reasons. Are they proud of an atrocious human rights record? Homophobia? Transphobia? Sexism? Lack of Democracy?

“To all these questions and more, we still have no answers.

Join us at International Workers' Memorial Day and "remember the dead, fight for the living"

Representatives from the affiliated Trade Union branches of Aberdeen Trades Union Council, Action on Asbestos, Thompsons Solicitors and Aberdeen City Council will commemorate International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) on Friday 28th April at the locations listed below.

The International Workers’ Memorial Day theme is to " remember the dead, fight for the living."

Graeme Farquhar, Aberdeen TUC President said, "On International Workers Memorial Day we pay our respects and remember all those who have lost their lives through a workplace accident or an industrial related disease.“

"Whilst we will always remember the dead, we reiterate our fundamental right to fight for the living by ensuring that all workplaces are safe and healthier to work in."

IWMD Events

Aberdeen Trades Union Council remembers Piper Alpha

On the 34th anniversary of the Piper Alpha fatal accident, Aberdeen Trades Union Council remembers the 167 workers who died and pledges to continue our work to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. 

ATUC President Graeme Farquhar said, "We are calling on all our affiliates and delegates to take a little time to remember those who died 34 years ago.

"We  will always share our thoughts with  the families, work colleagues  and friends of the 167 workers who were tragically killed on 6th July 1988."

Graeme continued  “The UK offshore oil and gas industry is driven  by cost reductions with the sole objective to increase the profits of the offshore oil and gas employers.

"The Trade Unions and offshore workers know full well that the Piper Alpha fatal accident could have been avoided by strict adherence to stringent Health and Safety measures. However the accident happened because of cost-driven decisions to maintain and increase profits."

Graeme warned, "When costs to the employers and profit increases for the shareholders become more important than workers safety then the Piper Alpha fatal accident shows that it's workers and their families who pay the ultimate price."

"Aberdeen Trades Union Council continues to support all the offshore based Trade Unions who organise, campaign and fightback to make sure the offshore oil and gas industry has  a safe working environment  so that all offshore workers can return home safely to their families and friends."

International Workers' Memorial Day service demands workplace health and safety as a fundamental right

 

Aberdeen Trades Union Council hosted a moving and well attended International Workers' Memorial Day service on 28th April in the beautiful Persley Memorial Gardens. 

The event was made particularly poignant after two years of COVID, when so many workers have lost their lives or been made ill as they continue to deliver vital services to our communities.

Welcoming representatives from many different unions as well as from Aberdeen City Council and political figures, ATUC President, Graeme Farquhar said that this years theme is make safe and healthy work a fundamental right.

"Every year there are more people killed at work than in wars. 

"People don’t die at work in tragic accidents, they die because their employer decided that their safety was not as important than making a profit," slammed Graeme.

Join us to "Remember the dead, fight for the living"

Aberdeen Trades Union Council's annual International Workers' Memorial Service will be held on Thursday 28th April in the beautiful Persley Walled Garden, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. 

Please gather at 12.30pm for a service at 1pm. 

International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) takes place all over the world on 28th April each year. Its purpose is two-fold. Firstly it is about not forgetting those who have died, been injured, or made ill by their work. Secondly it is about ensuring that this tragic loss and suffering are used to reinvigorate the campaign for healthier and safer work. 

Graeme Farquhar, ATUC President said: "Sadly the numbers of workers dying at their work, or being injured or made ill are still far too high.

"No one should go to their work and not come home. At our annual service we remember all those who did not come home and we renew our pledge to fight for more robust health and safety regulation and inspection to protect the living."

See below for all the events taking place to commemorate International Workers' Memorial 

On the 33rd anniversary of Piper Alpha ATUC remembers those who lost their lives

On the 33rd anniversary of the Piper Alpha fatal accident, Aberdeen Trades Union Council joined the memorial service to commemorate and remember the 167 workers who were tragically killed on 6th July 1988.

Graeme Farquhar, ATUC President said: "Our thoughts are with the families, work colleagues and friends of all those who lost their lives in that tragedy."

ATUC delegate, Issy Sutherland (pictured left) laid a wreath from Unite Offshore Catering branch, in memory of those who died.

Graeme added, "Whilst we remember all those who were killed we shall never forget that this offshore accident was caused by inadequate maintenance and safety procedures by the operator Occidental.

  “The oil and gas industry is driven  by cost reductions, with cutting corners and jobs being lost to save money to increase the profits of the offshore oil and gas employers.

"What is disgraceful is that we know that the  Piper Alpha fatal accident could have been avoided as it  was caused by cost-driven decisions. 

"When costs to the employers become more important than workers safety then the  Piper Alpha fatal accident shows that the result is deadly and  catastrophic for the workers."

Aberdeen Trades Union Council supports all the offshore based Trade Unions who continue the fight to make sure the offshore oil and gas industry has  a safe working environment to ensure all offshore workers can return home to their families and friends.

ATUC remembers those affected by asbestos and work related disease

ATUC President Graeme Farquhar and Exec member, Tommy Campbell laid a wreath on behalf of the ATUC in Johnston Gardens on 1st July at the memorial service hosted by Action on Asbestos. 

They joined representatives from Aberdeen City Council and other local organisations in remembering those who have lost their lives or been made ill by mesothelioma, lung cancer and all other asbestos and work-related disease and injury.

Action on Asbestos was formerly Clydeside Action on Asbestos and is Scotland's leading asbestos – industrial injury and disease charity. They provide emotional and practical support to those affected by mesothelioma, lung cancer and all other asbestos and work-related disease and injury.

For more information on the charity and their work see their website at www.actiononasbestos.org.uk

 

International Workers' Memorial Day - workers' health and safety rights must come before profit

Graeme Farquhar and Donna Clark

International Workers' Memorial Day was a moving event as the small, socially distanced crowd remembered all those who have died, been injured or made ill at their work, so many from Covid 19 but also those who suffered work related accidents and deaths.

The event was organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council along with Aberdeen City Council. Vice-president, Donna Clark laid a wreath on behalf of the ATUC

Speaking at the event, ATUC President, Graeme Farquhartold those gathered that this year’s theme for International Workers Memorial Day is health and safety is a fundamental workers’ right and this year it is even more important with Covid 19 being with us. 

"This pandemic has exposed an occupational crisis in workplaces not only here but worldwide.  Workers have been denied basic health and safety protection in the  workplace," said Graeme.

He highlighted that in the UK there have been 130 000 breaches of Covid guidelines in the workplace but with the Health and Safety Executive already cut to the bare minimum with the Conservative government’s austerity measures in recent years and now being so poorly resourced, there have been no prosecutions to date and this has resulted in many Covid outbreaks in workplaces.