April 28 is Workers Memorial Day

Four decades ago, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, promising every worker 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, saved hundreds of thousands of lives and prevented millions of workplace injuries and illnesses.

On April 28, the unions of the AFL-CIO observe Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew the fight for safe workplaces. This year we will come together to call for good jobs in this country that are safe and healthy. We will seek stronger safeguards to prevent injuries and save lives. We will stand for the right of all workers to raise job safety concerns without fear of retaliation, and for the freedom to form unions and speak out and bargain for respect and a better future.

What You Can Do on Workers Memorial Day

• Organize a rally to demand creation of good jobs and safe jobs in your community.


• Hold a candlelight vigil, memorial service or moment of silence to remember those who have died on the job and to highlight job safety problems in your community and at your workplace.


• Conduct workshops to educate workers about job safety hazards and how to exercise job safety rights. Invite union members, nonunion workers and community allies to participate.


• Create a memorial at a workplace or in a community where workers have been killed on the job.


• Hold a public meeting with members of Congress in their home districts. Bring injured workers and family members who can talk firsthand about the need for strong safety and health protections and the freedom to join a union. Invite local religious leaders and other allies to participate in the meeting.

Go to www.aflcio.org/Issues/Job-Safety/WorkersMemorialDay for more information and materials to order.