On April 28, 2018, the labor movement will observe Workers Memorial Day in order to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections. The theme this year is “Safe Jobs. Every Worker’s Right.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Act and Mine Safety and Health Act promise workers the right to a safe job. Unions and our allies have fought hard to make that promise a reality- winning protections that have made jobs safer and saved lives. After years of struggle, we won new rules to protect workers from deadly silica dust and beryllium, a stronger dust standard for miners and stronger anti-retaliation projections for workers who report job injuries.
However, all of these hard-won gains are now threatened. The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have overturned worker safety rules issued by the Obama administration. The president has ordered that for every new protection issued, agencies must revoke two existing safeguards. This means the health and safety of workers and the public are in danger.
This year’s Workers Memorial Day we must fight back by getting involved and organize actions, activities, or observances in our workplaces and communities to highlight the toll of job injuries and deaths. Contact your elected officials and demand they put workers’ well-being above corporate interests. Make it clear that the labor movement will defend jobs the right of every worker to a safe job and fight until that promise is fulfilled.
In the Cleveland area, you can take part in Workers Memorial Day in a couple of ways. On Saturday, April 28 IUPAT DC6 will have a moment of silence at 12 pm, to remember our fellow workers who were killed or injured on the job. You should also join us for a Workers Memorial Day event at Progressive Field on Saturday, April 28, 2018.
Schedule of Events:
12:00 Noon – IUPAT DC6 Observes a Moment of Silence
1:45pm – Memorial Ceremony: A Tribute to Fallen Cleveland Workers
(Grass Mall Between The Q and Progressive Field)
3:00pm – Workers Memorial Parade on Progressive Field
(Participants and Families Line-Up at “Gate A” Ramp)
4:00pm – First Pitch
4:10pm – Game Time: Cleveland Indians vs. Seattle Mariners
$28 Upper Box Tickets
(includes $5.00 concessions voucher) TO ORDER TICKETS, CLICK HERE.
What else can you do in your community to help on Workers Memorial Day?
-Organize a rally to call for stronger safety and health protections.
-Hold a candlelight vigil, memorial service, or moment of silence to remember those who lost their life on the job.
-Hold a public meeting with members of Congress in your district. Injured workers and their families can talk firsthand about the need for strong safety and health protections.
-Conduct workshops to empower workers to report job safety hazards and exercise workplace rights.
-Invite the press to your Workers Memorial Day events to increase public awareness of the dangers workers face on the job.
For more information and to order Workers Memorial Day Materials visit the AFL-CIO website at: www.aflcio.org/WorkersMemorialDay.
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