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Workers Memorial Day Observances
Thursday, April 28
APWU Web News Article #17-05, April 12, 2005
On April 28 each year, the unions of the AFL-CIO observe Workers Memorial Day to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections. This year’s theme is “Good Jobs. Safe Jobs. Protect Workers Now.”
For decades, unions have led the struggle for safer working conditions. Many of the gains achieved, currently guaranteed by law, are being threatened by lax enforcement, and business interests and their allies in Congress and the Bush Administration are working to undermine existing workplace safety regulations. [AFL-CIO Fact Sheet – PDF] To add insult to injury, corporations continue to export American Jobs and cut pay and benefits for working families.
This Workers Memorial Day, the APWU urges all members, locals and state organizations to get involved and organize workplace and community observances.
“Workers Memorial Day is an opportunity to highlight the toll of job injuries and deaths, focus on the loss of American jobs, raise awareness regarding the negative impacts of postal reform,” wrote APWU President William Burrus in a March 29 letter to the union’s state and local presidents.
Workers Memorial Day materials and suggestions for how to organize an observance are available through the AFL-CIO Safety and Health Department at (202) 637-5367, and on the labor federation’s Web site.
Editor’s note: Please send reports and photos of Workers’ Memorial Day observances to the APWU Communications Dept. 1300 L Street, NW. Washington, DC 20005.
