International Workers Memorial Day 2025

Murdered Palestinian workers have been remembered at events which have taken place around Scotland to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day.

Starting with the West Lothian ceremony in Bathgate on Friday 25 April, Lewis from our trade union organising group spoke on behalf of his union the FBU, highlighting the suffering of Palestinian workers.

In Edinburgh the ceremony took place at the Memorial Tree in West Princes Street Gardens on Saturday 26 April. Hussein, our Trade Union Officer addressed those assembled and laid a wreath in memory of the thousands of Palestinian workers murdered by Israel.

International Workers’ Memorial Day is a day to remember workers across the world who have paid the ultimate price in their workplaces, as a result of health and safety negligence, and in the case of thousands of Palestinian workers, the deliberate targeting and slaughter of those doing their jobs.

The point was made that journalists, healthcare workers, medics, and aid workers in particular have been targeted simply and specifically for doing their jobs - and that we must not only remember them, but do much more to fight on their behalf.

The deliberate nature of their murder may contrast from those whose lives are taken in Scottish workplaces, but that they are unnecessary and preventable does not.

A previous speaker had described the Labour Party as the political wing of the trade union movement, it was pointed out that Palestine today is a litmus test for trade unionists, and that it is one that much of the movement is failing - whilst the UK Labour government is of course an active participant in the genocide.

Hussein finished by noting that he shares a name with one of the 15 medics executed in the recent Rafah paramedic massacre - Ezzedine Shaath, committing to never forget comrade Ezzedine and never give up the struggle for the freedom of his people.

There were similar commemorations around Scotland where speakers emphasised the murders of Palestinian workers, the events culminated in a brief ceremony outside the STUC Congress in Dundee on Monday 28 April where Kerry McCrone of FBU again highlighted that IWMD isn’t just about looking at our own struggles, it is about recognising the plight of workers everywhere, and fighting on their behalf.

If you are a trade union member, SIGN: Statement of Solidarity with Palestinian Workers and JOIN: SPSC Trade Union Network