Fifty years ago, on April 28th 1971, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act promising every worker the right to a safe job. Every year on this date we observe Worker’s Memorial Day. This day is to remember those who have died, been injured or made ill by their work.  It is also a day to reinvigorate all of us in our never-ending campaign to return safely home to the ones who love us the most.

31 precious lives have been lost in our plant since 1967. 31 families have been forever changed. We must remember them every day. We must strive to do better. We owe it to them. We owe it to their families. We owe it to the men and women working here today and we owe it to the next generation of workers to ensure they did not die in vain.

As the years go by, the memory of our fallen Brothers and Sisters are carried on. Their cause will never fail. We have picked up the struggle of our departed. While steel will no longer reach its temper from their sweat and blood, they remain in our conscience and our hearts to help us remain consistent with the realities of working-class life.

In the 50th year of OSHA, we focus on the need to renew the promise of safe jobs for all American workers.  We can’t change the past, the fatalities, the injuries or industrial disease, but we can change the future for the better.  Please join us this Worker’s Memorial Day, to honor victims of workplace injury and illness and to keep fighting for the promise of safe jobs for all workers.

In Solidarity on this Somber Day, 
Pete Trinidad Sr. 
USW 6787 President