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Tuesday, April 20 2021
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- 3:03pmNkki Pollo created Workers Memorial Day 2021Read more
Join us on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 to commemorate Workers Memorial Day – in which we recognize those who lost their lives or were injured while working.
What is Workers Memorial Day?
On April 28, 1971, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) 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 and have prevented millions of workplace injuries and illnesses.
But our work is not done. Many job hazards are unregulated and uncontrolled. Some employers cut corners and violate the law. Workers who report job hazards or job injuries are fired or disciplined. Employers contract out dangerous work to try to avoid responsibility. As a result, each year thousands of workers are killed and millions more injured or diseased because of their jobs.
Every year on April 28, the United Steelworkers (USW) Tony Mazzocchi Center (TMC) observes Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew our fight for safe workplaces.
Together with the USW, we pledge to:
- Defend safety and health protections and rights from industry attacks.
- Require employers to find and fix hazards and implement a worksite safety and health program, with full worker participation, to prevent injuries, illnesses and deaths.
- Advocate for stronger workplace safeguards for combustible dust, workplace violence and infectious disease.
- Prohibit employer policies and practices that discourage reporting of workplace injuries.
- Increase attention to the safety and health of Latinx and immigrant workers who are at much greater risk of death and injury.
- Support the passing of the Protecting America’s Workers Act (PAWA) to ensure all workers have OSHA protection, stronger criminal and civil penalties for companies that seriously violate job safety laws, and improved anti-retaliation protections for workers who raise job safety concerns.
- Ensure workers’ rights to have a voice on the job, and to freely choose to join a union without employer interference or intimidation.
Renew the promise: Save jobs for all
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the inextricable link between workplace safety and health and our communities. The virus has killed more than 500,000 people in this country so far – devastating working families, with a disproportionate impact on people of color.
Unions and our allies stepped up to demand and win job protections from this highly contagious virus. We organized for safe jobs and the right to speak out against unsafe working conditions. We...
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