A great turn out this morning at Christ Church in Seaham to mark International Workers Memorial Day.

 

The Durham Miners Association, local town and county councillors, Fran Heathcote, PCS Union General Secretary, and many others, turned out at Christ Church to remember those we have lost and to remember why we must continue the fight for the living.

 

International Workers’ Memorial Day is a day of reflection—a moment to remember the workers who have lost their lives, been injured, or made ill simply for doing their jobs. But more than that, it is also a day of resolve. A call to action.

 

Because dignity, decency, and respect in the workplace are not unreachable ideals—they are fundamental rights. Hard-won rights. Rights that generations of workers, trade unionists, and campaigners have fought tirelessly to win and to protect. And that fight continues today.

 

One of my heroes, the late Tony Benn—someone I was proud to call both a colleague and a friend—once said:

 

“There is no final victory, as there is no final defeat. There is just the same battle. To be fought, over and over again. So toughen up, bloody toughen up.”

 

Tony’s words remind us that the struggle for justice, safety, and fairness in the workplace is never over. It is passed from one generation to the next. And today, it is our turn to carry that message forward.

 

That’s why, each year on April 28th, workers and trade unions across the world pause to remember the dead—and reflect on why we must continue the fight for the living. We remember those who went to work and never came home—victims of preventable accidents, of unsafe conditions, of workplace neglect. And we renew our commitment to making sure such tragedies are never repeated.

 

History gives us countless examples.

 

In this area, coal mining—once the backbone of our industrial heritage—was among the most perilous of occupations. In Seaham, we endured two devastating mining disasters, in 1871 and 1880. The disaster of 1880, in which 164 men and boys were killed, followed the 1871 tragedy where 26 lives were lost.

 

Today, our community comes together at Christchurch, in the shadow of the miner’s memorial, to remember them. Boys and men who never came home—from the youngest miners, aged just 14:

 

Thomas Henry Williams

 

David Knox

 

Robson Lawson

 

Michael Owens

 

To the oldest, aged 71:

 

Robert Clark

 

Thomas Cummings

 

Their names may be from history, but their legacy is alive in the community around us. There will be thousands of descendants of those lost that day—some of you standing here today may be connected by blood, unaware of the sacrifice an ancestor made.

 

In the Labour and Trade Union movement, we promise to “remember the dead and fight for the living.” We honour the struggles of our ancestors by building a safer, fairer future for our children and grandchildren.

 

I hope this community continues to take pride in our shared history—depicted on our banners, etched into our memorials—but more importantly, in the values that built them: solidarity, unity, and strength. These are the foundations of a better town, and a better tomorrow.

 

One hundred and sixty-four husbands, sons, and brothers lost in a single town in a single night in 1871. It is to them, and countless others like them, that we owe an enormous debt of honour and gratitude.

 

And for many of us, this is personal. Today, I remember my own father and grandfather—both taken too soon, their lives cut short by industrial illness. Their stories are not unique—but they must never be forgotten.

 

As the banners say:

 

“The past we inherit, the future we build.”

 

And that future must be built on safe work, secure jobs, and empowered workers.

 

That’s why trade unions matter—now more than ever. Every protection we enjoy today—from paid holidays to limits on working hours, from maternity rights to health and safety laws—was not given freely. It was fought for. Won through the collective strength of workers standing together in their unions.

 

Empowering trade unions is essential—not just to protect what we’ve gained, but to push forward for more. For better. For safer. It’s only through strong unions that we can raise standards, hold employers accountable, and ensure that no worker is left behind—or left in danger.

 

So on International Workers Memorial Day let us remember the fallen.

 

But let us also honour their memory by standing up, speaking out, and continuing the fight for justice in every workplace.