Mourn the Dead, Fight for the Living

From the AFLCIO:

The numbers are staggering. In 2010, an average of 150 workers died from job injuries and illnesses every day. And nearly 4 million workers were hurt or made ill.

America must do better. That’s why working families in your area and across the country will come together to mourn the dead and injured and continue the struggle for good jobs that are safe and healthy for all workers.

Click here to find details about an event near you.

We still have much work to do to make sure workplaces are safe for all workers. In 2010, nearly 4,700 firefighters, construction workers, bus drivers and other workers lost their lives on the job—and more than 50,000 died from occupational diseases.

But we have made real progress over the last four decades. Without working people and their unions coming together to demand action from employers and the government to improve workplace safety and protect communities, we would not have the Occupational Safety and Health Act and mine safety laws that provide the right to a safe job. We would not have stronger standards to protect workers from asbestos, benzene and other dangers. And communities wouldn’t have the right to know about toxic chemical hazards, or stronger laws and regulations to prevent chemical plants from exploding and endangering our communities.

The collective power of working people also can stop the erosion of workplace safety laws. Extreme politicians are pushing to erode workplace safety laws and to let some employers—like Massey Energy and BP—off the hook for cutting corners and violating the law to help their bottom line. But we won’t let it happen. Not on our watch.

Please join us at an upcoming Workers Memorial Day event near you to stand with other working families in the struggle to make safe workplaces for all workers a reality.

On this Workers Memorial Day, let’s not only remember those who lost their lives in the past year, but commit to come together to make jobs safer to save lives and protect communities.