Bridgwater remembers on IWMD25

A sea of Unite flags filled Blake Gardens in Bridgwater on Friday (April 25th), as construction workers from Hinkley Point C and trade union activists gathered around the Unite Workers Memorial to mark International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD).

Around 100 people gathered for the breezy lunchtime event, an event which is now the “largest event of its kind held anyway in the region”.

Event organiser and Unite Branch Secretary Dave Borthwick welcomed the trade union crowd to the annual IWMD event and introduced speakers to the gathered workers, starting with Unite Regional Secretary, Steve Preddy.

Dave Borthwick, Unite Branch Secretary

Steve started by congratulating the organisers and activists at HPC for putting on such an important and moving event.

Steve said, “We always have to remember why we mark these occasions, and it would be wrong to gather here today without mentioning Jason Waring. A sad loss of life, and to everyone affected by that loss you have our solidarity from everyone at Unite South West.”

Jason was a construction worker who sadly lost his life in November 2022 at Hinkley Point C in a traffic incident involving a construction vehicle.

Steve went on to highlight the stark statistics on workplace deaths from RIDDOR, with 138 people killed in 2023/24, saying that “If there is no other reason to gather today, that’s enough. And in 2025 we are reflecting again on another year of three figure deaths in workplaces.”

Steve pointed out that, though not all these deaths would have been the responsibility of negligent employers, “the law is still inadequate” and still lets workers down.

“When it comes to league tables I’m afraid that construction and the food, drink and agricultural sections lead when it comes to deaths at work – and that has to change.”

Steve finished by paying tribute to trade union health and safety reps, and the hours of training they put in to support members and stand up for their colleagues in workplaces up and down the country.

Steve Preddy, Unite Regional Secretary

The next speaker was Unite Branch Chair Nick Halsall. Nick highlighted not only the physical dangers of being a construction worker working around large machinery and at height, the silent hazards such as dust, noise and chemicals that may take years to kill workers. 

Nick also spoke about the mental toll it plays on people, saying that “Today two construction workers will take their own life, like they do every day. But when it comes to keeping workers safe, we know what works, trade union reps work. 

“Because we speak up. Unions give workers a voice, and that voice saves lives!”

Nick Halsall – Unite Branch Chair

Brett Sparkes, Interim Regional Education Officer, spoke powerfully about two incidents that inspired him to get active in workplace health and safety with the union.

The first was as an apprentice witnessing a serious accident when a colleague fell from scaffolding on a central London building site, and the second was while working on the railways during the Jubilee Line extension in 1997, where a couple of electricians were killed during the construction.

Brett explained becoming heavily involved in campaigning around on site safety, speaking at events and writing articles, but it was only years later after reading Dave Smith’s book “Blacklisted”, he came across a chapter on the Jubilee line extension.

Brett said, “I contacted Unite and told them my history, and they suggested I get in touch with the Information Commissioner’s Office. After several months they got back and said, “Yes, my name was on the list.” I was labeled a trade union trouble maker and all I wanted to do was stop people getting killed, or seriously injured, at work.

“This explained all those times I was looking at jobs I didn’t get and interview or passed the application stage.”

But Brett said that in his role with Unite he will push to ensure that we make sure that workplaces are as safe and healthy as we can.

Brett Sparkes, Interim Regional Education Officer

There were other speakers from the employer, including company leads on health and safety and the site Chaplin. 

They also heard from Judith Defbonne, President of Bridgwater TUC who also spoke about the importance of good mental health and supporting colleagues suffering from stress. 

Judith Defbonne, President of Bridgwater TUC

Unite member Vivian Willis represented Yeovil and District Trades Union Council at the event, and said, “ Today’s Workers’ Memorial Day was a brilliant and poignant event – to remember those workers who not only died at work but also the ones who suffered long term impact from dust, chemicals, unsafe working practices and the mental stress from the pressure of contemporary approach to work. 

“Thanks to the organisers, the speakers, Bridgwater Sea Cadets and everyone who turned up. A great Trade Union event.”

Back to Steve’s contribution, and the core reason people gather, “Nobody should leave home on a morning and not return home safe to their loved ones at the end of a working day.”

As the last post drifted across the park, the gathered workers took a moment to remember the dead, and redouble efforts to fight for the living.

Find out more about IMWD, and Unites preparation for event’s this year.

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Mark Thomas