Valerie attends Workers’ memorial event in Walsall

I attended the Workers’ Memorial Observance on Saturday 27 April 2019. We gathered together at the Memorial gardens in the grounds of St Matthews Church at 12 pm to remember those who have died or been injured at work.

The event was organised by Paul Agg of Unite and with the service commemorated by Rev Bill Mash of the Black Country Urban Industrial Mission. We said prayers.

Paul Agg read the Bible Reading from James Chapter 5 v1-7:

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.”

We laid wreaths from Walsall TUC, National Education Union, GMB, and Unite.

This annual event takes place across the country, and declares that we must: ‘Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living’.