Updates Workers Memorial Day
Wow, families from across the united states stormed into Washington DC April 19 and 20, 2012 -were not typical days for folks in DC. A historic alliance of families, injured workers and activists swept through the town with appeals to improve worker health and safety protections. Families spoke about their own personal losses and experiences and demanded change. The group of activists participated in a press conference, Senate hearing, meeting with OMB and DOL and fit in a protest rally at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to top it off.
Family members and workers came to DC to participate in the Senate HELP hearing and other related activities to put a human face on the statistics and demonstrate the impact of workplace injuries and illnesses and the need to move forward on -necessary protections and to strengthen enforcement.
At the meetings both family members and workers shared their
powerful and moving accounts; urging agencies to move forward on
needed rules. This reminded everyone that the delays in rules have
real impacts on workers. Families told them how frustrated they were
by the delays in key safety and health rules and urged them to do
their job and move forward
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on the silica rules and other rules without delay. "After three major
explosions, including the one my brother died in, and all the other people
killed, I just assumed that someone would do what was needed to fix these
problems, and I can't believe that here we are in 2012 and we still don't
have a solution" said Tammy Miser.
Many family members conveyed the pain of losing loved ones with so little consequences to those responsible for the deaths. Fines of $1,500 to $3,000 for fatality cases were cited. Families don’t want their friends and family dying in vain – they want something to be done to change
the system so that other families will not have to suffer the devastating nightmare they are living through.
Everyone, except the Chamber appreciated the opportunity to hear from workers and family members. Family members and victims poured their hearts out at every meeting and commanded attention and respect. Their written testimonies are available in the attached documents. Families from USMWF and workers from USW, Bricklayers Union, UFCW , NY PEF and others participated in the meetings as well as staff from National COSH, AFL and CTW Unions.
As we prepare for this year’s Worker Memorial Day activities, this reminds us of the impact of families of lost loved ones, injured or ill workers and all the groups fighting for more worker rights in health and safety can have to “Fight for the Living”.
Workers Memorial Day
Each year, more than two million women and men die as a result of work-related accidents and diseases.
Workers suffer approximately 270 million occupational accidents each year, and fall victim to some 160
million incidents of work-related illnesses. Hazardous substances kill 440,000 workers annually while
asbestos claims 100,000 lives. Worldwide, one worker dies every 15 seconds and in the U.S., 14 workers die every day due to preventable incidents.
Workers Memorial Day is so much more than a day to honor and remember our loved ones.
Families from across our nation have learned that it is not enough to just mourn our loss .
Over the years, our country has enacted laws to protect and ensure the safety of our citizens
and their families in a variety of ways. We have enacted increasingly stringent seatbelt and child
seat laws and fines for non-compliance. We protect our air travelers, skies, and country with increased
airport security measures. We protect our citizens against criminal acts through increased criminal
penalties, especially against the habitual and/or most egregious offenders. We protect the victims
of crimes through victim rights legislation, registries, release notifications and even protection
programs. We protect our citizens against financial fraud through both the criminal and regulatory
systems. We protect our citizens where and how they live through effective zoning, safe water, clean
air, and manufacturing standards for housing, appliances, furniture, clothing, and seek retribution
against those who jeopardize the safety and well-being of others. We protect our citizens at play
also, from infant toy standards, special licenses and education, rules, regulations, manufacturing
standards and increased safety equipment. We even protect the rights of those who do us harm.
Should we not protect our workers at their jobs and their families in comparable ways? Is not
investing in our workers, investing in the greatest asset of our country?
During this Workers Memorial Day we need to not only remember the fallen, but we must call
attention to preventable incidents and combine the efforts of all to gain reasonable and
effective health and safety solutions for workers, employers and families.
Send Your Event
Every year USMWF puts together a list of Workers Memorial Day Events. Do you know of any
events or activities that should be shared with our readers? If so please
send Tammy the following information:
- State:
- City:
- Location (Address):
- Date:
- Time:
- Host:
- Contact Information:
- Speakers:
- Agenda (by time):
New We have created a tri-fold for the families who chose to print their Workers Memorial Day Event details. It is located
here in a word format so you can edit it to your own needs.
The Faces Campaign
Fred R. Barnard said, “One picture is worth a thousand words.”
How many words does it take to peer into the eyes of tragedy or feel the heartache and pain that is set in motion after our loved one was lost.
The Faces Campaign is intended to give workplace fatalities a face, gain awareness and educate workers, employees, organizations and our government.
We invite you to add a face of someone lost due to a workplace incident to
Tammy (subject Faces Campaign) with the following information
- Photo of Worker
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Loss date
- Place of employment
- Your name
- Your relationship with lost worker
Provide as much of this information as you have. At a minimum, we need your loved one's name and yours. Have you lost a loved one and want to get involved? Take the survey here for
pdf and here for
word then send it to
Debi Fergen *Please note if you send in your loved ones photo it may be featured in print and/or online.
The Waiting List
The Waiting List is a Multimedia story-telling project which tells the story of individuals waiting for organ transplants.
