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Friday, April 28
Workers Memorial Day

APWU Web News Article #26-06, April 19, 2006

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. Each year more than 56,000 workers die from work-related hazards and another 6 million are injured.

For decades, unions have led the struggle for safer working conditions. However, many protections are now being eroded by lax enforcement, while business interests and their allies in Congress and the administration are working to overturn workplace safety rules. Since 2001, the White House has blocked or withdrawn dozens of important safety regulations, including the ergonomic safety standards unions fought for and a number of measures that might have prevented recent mining tragedies. [AFL-CIO Fact Sheet – PDF]

This Workers Memorial Day, the APWU urges members to participate in workplace and community observances. “Workers Memorial Day is an opportunity to focus on reducing the toll of job injuries and deaths, and on keeping good jobs in America,” said APWU President William Burrus.

Workers Memorial Day materials and suggestions for how to organize an observance are available on the AFL-CIO's Web site or by calling the labor federation’s Safety and Health Department at (202) 637-5367.

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.

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