The city’s observance of International Workers Memorial Day included the launch of a campaign to introduce legislation to hold employers accountable for workplace deaths and the unveiling of a plaque honouring a defender of workers’ rights.
Union members across the country gathered to remember those people who had been killed or injured at work.
In Dunedin, the memorial service took place at the Otago Workers Memorial, Market Reserve, in Princes St.
Ninety-three crosses were placed in the reserve to remember those who had died in Otago workplaces, dating back to 1990.
Maritime Union spokesman Victor Billot said the day was to honour the dead and fight for the living.
"It’s a terrible problem in this country of people being killed on the job or being hurt on the job.
"We hear a lot about leadership. Well, that leadership needs to come from people that are in charge of the workplace, the employer.
In Wellington, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff said at least one person was killed on the job every week in New Zealand.
Last year, 65 people were killed at work and an estimated 750 to 900 people had died through occupational exposure to toxic substances such as asbestos.
Mr Wagstaff was at the memorial service held in Wellington to launch the NZCTU Not One More campaign to introduce corporate manslaughter legislation in New Zealand.
"More needs to be done to ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees are killed at work," Mr Wagstaff said.
At the Dunedin service, there was also an unveiling of a plaque in honour of former Rail and Maritime Transport Union national president, the late James Kelly, by his daughter Lisa Kelly.
Miss Kelly said the the memorial would have meant a lot to her father and having a safe workplace for workers was very dear to his heart.
