Lilies and labour's battlefield

So it's May Day, International Workers Day... And in France 1st May is also popularly known as La Fête du Muguet - Lily of the Valley Day. Posies of these lovely little flowers are traditionally given today, symbolising love and good luck. I don't - alas - have any in my garden, but there are several in a front garden a few doors away, their strong yet delicate scent beckoning me whenever I walk past; causing me to break my stride and linger for a moment. I had to get down to their level to take photos of them; despite their show-off aroma they're really quite shy about revealing their full loveliness. But here they are, to send love and the blessing of good luck - and especially good health - from me to you.

Today is also St Joseph the Worker, a feast I have a fondness for, dating back to when I was in the Young Christian Workers. Back then we still said a traditional version of the YCW prayer, which included the line: And may those who have died on labour's battlefield rest in peace. 

These words, written in a previous age, were all too real for people who knew how perilous the world of work had been for those in factories, mills, mines and building sites. Lung diseases were commonplace, as was exposure to hazardous materials, while construction workers, lacking safety equipment, were regularly killed or maimed in accidents. But by the time we said this prayer much of this was fading into the past, thanks to trade unions and health and safety campaigners; thus, they were more of a reminder of dignity and rights we should never take for granted. One member fought for proper fire doors in her workplace, a motorcycle courier spoke of unsafe targets, and, of course, we worked in solidarity with workers in other countries, for whom labour's battlefield was still dangerous and unsafe. Nowadays though, in this country at least, labour problems are more likely to be those of exploitation and low pay: industrial diseases are rare, and injuries regarded as tragic accidents, demanding compensation and enquiries.

... Until now. And may those who have died on labour's battlefield rest in peace.... Those words came back to me very forcefully on Tuesday, as we kept a minute's silence for all the health and care workers who have died due to Coronavirus: died, in large part, due to an abysmal lack of testing and personal protective equipment. Now, we hold these doctors, nurses, carers and support staff, who have served and died on labour's new battlefield, in our collective grief and anger, as we commend them to God. Like so many others, I want nothing more than that we honour their memory by ensuring nobody else suffers the same fate, for want of gloves and gowns and visors.

May they, and all who have died and continue to die on labour's many battlefields, rest in peace; and may we who deplore their deaths not rest...