Unions Remember Those Killed on The Job with Workers’ Memorial Day
Unions Remember Those Killed on The Job with Workers’ Memorial Day (Springfield, IL) — The Illinois AFL-CIO and nearly half of its 22 Central Labor and (Trade Council’s (CLC’s) gathered across the state to remember fallen workers on the 52nd anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Hazard Act.
“Every day, workers are still killed on the job – even in a pro-labor state like Illinois,” remarked Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea. “We are fortunate to have a strong Department of Labor safeguarding the public sector workforce in Illinois, but we cannot lose sight that as a whole, the Occupational Safety Hazard Act (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MHSA) lack the resources they need to ensure everyone, no matter their zip code, race, ethnicity, age, or immigration status, has a safe place to work across all workplaces.”
On Wednesday, the national AFL-CIO, America’s largest labor federation, released its 32nd annual report, Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect. The report is the most comprehensive analysis of safety and health protections for America’s workers. Key findings point to a troubling rise in worker deaths, particularly among Black and Latino workers, and illustrate the urgency of greater funding and support for critical job safety oversight and enforcement.
“The data we are seeing is alarming. In 2023, workplace deaths should be going down – not up,” said Illinois AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Pat Devaney. “In Illinois, we are seeing the bulk of fatalities in predominately non-unionized sectors like private transportation and warehousing. With the recent passage of the Workers’ Rights Amendment, we expect that more workers will speak out against unsafe working conditions.”
The Illinois OSHA program administered by the Department of Labor covers all state and local government workplaces. The U.S. OSHA sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards with standards for construction, agriculture, maritime and general industry. A 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study reported 176 fatal workplace injuries in Illinois, up from the previous year’s report of 135. Nationwide, a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries work recorded in 2021, signifying a nine percent increase from 2020. Of Illinois’ 176 fatalities, 66 were represented by people of color.
“It’s critical that we bring attention to workplace fatalities,” remarked United Association 137 Business Manager Aaron Gurnsey. “The biggest gift we have in organized labor is the opportunity to collectively bargain for workplace safety. This privilege is not enough to protect our hard-working men and women. We need to ensure we are advocating for programs that fully invest in programs that protect workers, both at home and in D.C.”
“The Illinois Department of Labor, our Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program are committed to ensuring safe and healthy working conditions across the state,” said Illinois Department of Labor DirectorJane Flanagan. “Workplace fatalities are largely preventable, yet still a reality in today’s workforce. Through our enforcement, education, and consultation work, we strive to ensure that all workers make it home at the end of their workday.”
Every year on April 28, the labor movement observes Workers Memorial Day to remember workers killed, injured, or made ill on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety protections. In Springfield, the state labor federation remembered Gregory David Fields, a United Association Local 137 member who died installing the HVAC system at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport earlier this month. A list of today’s events throughout the nation can be found here.
Unions Remember Those Killed on The Job with Workers’ Memorial Day
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