Workers' Memorial Day - April 28, 2013

On April 28, 2013, CWA and the U.S. labor movement will once again observe Workers’ Memorial Day. This year, the theme for Workers’ Memorial Day is, “Safe Jobs Save Lives: Make Your Voice Heard.”

As we remember those who have become injured, ill, or killed on the job, we will also renew our fight for strong workplace safety and health protections. Participation in Workers’ Memorial Day 2013 is of particular significance to CWA as we lost five members to workplace fatalities during 2012 and the first part of 2013. In addition, many more of our members have suffered work-related injuries, illnesses and “near misses.” 

On April 28, we will mourn the deaths of:

• Michael Zwald, 39 years old, a member of IUE-CWA Local 88502 employed by Mersen USA, St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania, who died on April 1, 2012, when the raised fork from an adjacent fork truck struck his leg cutting a main artery.
• Kevin Mashburn, 59 years old and a 41-year employee, a member of CWA Local 6360 employed by AT&T, Kansas City, Missouri, who was performing non-critical maintenance spare work on a telecommunications cross-box when he was fatally assaulted on September 19, 2012. After pulling himself to the company vehicle, he attempted to drive away, but overcome by his injuries, crashed the vehicle into a nearby ditch. The police found him unconscious in the vehicle. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died.   
• Marvin Bennett, 46 years old, a member of IUE-CWA Local 88693 employed by Globe Metallurgical, Inc., Selma, Alabama, who was fatally injured on October 26, 2012, when he fell from a 20-foot ladder leading to a tunnel.
• Billy Johnson, 49 years old, a member of CWA Local 4322, employed by CTS Communications, Dayton, Ohio, who was performing aerial telecommunications work on December 26, 2012, when he was killed by a passing motorist after he descended and stepped out of the bucket.   
• Leroy Hammond, 61 years old and a 41-year employee, a member of IUE-CWA Local 84963, employed by REA Magnet Wire, Fort Wayne, Indiana, was fatally injured on January 29, 2013, after falling from a ladder. He died two weeks later.    

Too many job hazards remain unregulated and uncontrolled resulting in the continued occurrence of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.  As a result, every year thousands of workers are killed and millions are injured or become ill because of their jobs. These deaths are preventable.

We urge you to get involved on April 28 and organize actions to highlight the toll of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities to ensure that employers are providing our members with safe and healthful working conditions. Workers’ Memorial Day 2013 materials are available from the AFL-CIO at: www.aflcio.org/WorkersMemorialDay. 

Please contact David LeGrande, Director of our Occupational Safety and Health Department, if we can assist you in planning an event. As you conduct activities, please complete and return the attached “Report on 2013 Workers’ Memorial Day Events” so that we can publicize and report actions on the web.