Four decades ago, Congress passed the
Occupational Safety and Health 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, saved hundreds
of thousand of lives and prevented millions of workplace
injuries and illnesses.
But our work is not done. Many job hazards are
unregulated and uncontrolled. Some employers, like
Massey Energy and BP, cut corners and violate the law,
putting workers in serious danger and costing lives.
Each year thousands of workers are killed and millions
more injured or diseased because of their jobs.
The Obama administration has moved forward to
strengthen protections with tougher enforcement on
serious violators and proposed new safeguards for
workplace hazards. But business groups and the
Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives
are attacking these stronger measures, falsely claiming
they kill jobs. They are pushing legislation to make it
difficult, if not impossible, to issue needed safeguards
to protect workers and the public.
We cannot and will not let them turn back the clock and
destroy the progress we have made to make jobs safer
and save lives. Safety laws and regulations don’t kill
jobs—but unsafe jobs do kill workers.
On April 28, the unions of the AFL-CIO observe Workers
Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered
and died on the job and to renew the fight for safe
workplaces. This year we will fight to create good jobs
in this country that are safe and healthy. We will fight
for the freedom of workers to form unions and, through
their unions, to speak out and bargain for respect and a
better future. We will demand that the country fulfill the
promise of safe jobs for all.
Workers Memorial Day • April 28, 2012
Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in
working conditions. The Obama administration has moved forward to strengthen worker protections.
But business groups and the new Republican
majority in the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to
block stronger measures and roll back
existing protections. It is time to organize, take action and fight
for safe jobs for workers, including:
- Defending safety and health protections and workers’ rights from industry attacks.
- Requiring employers to find and fix hazards and implement a worksite safety and health program to
prevent injuries, illnesses and deaths.
- Winning new workplace safeguards for silica, combustible dust and infectious diseases.
- Prohibiting employer policies and practices that discourage reporting of workplace injuries.
- Protecting workers from ergonomic hazards that still cripple and injure more workers than any other
workplace hazard.
- Increasing attention to the safety and health of Hispanic and immigrant workers who are at much
greater risk of death and injury.
- Strengthening protections for miners, including tighter standards for coal dust to protect against
Black Lung.
- Passing the Protecting America’s Workers Act to provide OSHA protection for all workers who lack
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.
- Ensuring workers’ right to have a voice on the job, and to freely choose to join a union without
employer interference or intimidation.
What You Can Do on Workers Memorial Day
- Organize a rally to demand creation of good jobs and safe jobs in your community.
- Hold a candlelight vigil, memorial service or moment of silence to remember those who have died on
the job and to highlight job safety problems in your community and at your workplace.
- Create a memorial at workplaces or in communities where workers have been killed on the job.
- Distribute workplace fliers and organize a call-in to congressional representatives during lunch times
or break times. Tell your members of Congress to oppose efforts to roll back protections and to
support legislation to create good jobs and safe jobs.
- Hold a public meeting with members of Congress in their home districts. Bring injured workers and
family members who can talk firsthand
about the need for strong safety and health protections and
the freedom to join a union. Invite
local religious leaders and other allies to participate in the meeting.
For additionalthat the country fulfill the
promise of safe jobs for all.
