NASUWT on International Workers Day

This year, on International Workers Memorial Day, at 11 am, Crewe and Nantwich Labour Party held a commemorative service at the Covid memorial garden in Crewe Cemetery. Several trade union representatives laid wreaths in remembrance of workers who had died in work-related circumstances.

Connor Naismith, Labour parliamentary candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, also laid a wreath in commemoration. Labour Councillors read poems at the service. Councillor Joy Bratherton read the poem ‘Unusual Usual days and nights’ by Karla Bradford, and Councillor Geoff Smith read a poem by Gareth Williams, a Crewe businessman, about work in Crewe.

Unusual Usual days and nights

Gazing through the windows at the sun, moon, rain

Workers readied themselves for work day and night

Kissed their husbands, wives, partners, children goodbye

Walked, rode their bikes, drove their cars, took the trains

They entered the factories, pits, building sites, mills

They pressed buttons, operated machines, used power tools “Just another usual working day?”

However this was to be an unusual usual working day for some.

Soon some would operate no buttons, machines or tools

Never enter another factory, pit, building site, mill

Walk, ride bikes, drive cars or take trains

Would never feel the warmth of a loved one’s kiss

Nor husbands, wives, partners, children left behind

Never ready themselves day or night for work

Never gaze the sun, moon or rain through windows.

No usual working days or nights again for some.

Karla Bradford