Every year 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 our efforts for safe workplaces. This year, the struggle continues to create good jobs in this country that are safe and healthy and pay fair wages and to ensure the freedom of workers to form unions and, through their unions, to speak out and bargain for respect and a better future.
Here are a few facts about worker safety and health you should know in honor of Workers Memorial Day:
On today's labor calendar, NoVA Labor’s Stop Fast Track Phonebank continues starting at 10am and the Baltimore Labor Council’s 34th Annual Committee on Political Education Dinner will be held tonight starting at 7pm; Go to dclabor.org and click on calendar for complete details.
In today's labor history, a coal mine collapsed in Eccles, West Virginia on this date in 1914, killing 181 workers; in 1924, a total of 119 died in the Benwood, West Virginia coal mine disaster; and in 1970, Congress created OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In 1989, the AFL-CIO set April 28 as “Workers Memorial Day” to honor the hundreds of thousands of workers killed and injured on the job every year. On this date in 1993, the first “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” was held, promoted by the Ms. Foundation to boost self-esteem of girls with invitations to a parent’s workplace.
Today's labor quote is by Mother Jones, who said:
“Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”
Here are a few facts about worker safety and health you should know in honor of Workers Memorial Day:
- In 2013, more than 4,400 workers were killed on the job and more than 50,000 more died from occupational diseases.
- OSHA has fewer than 900 inspectors, meaning they can inspect workplaces, on average, just once every 140 years.
- There is no federal workplace standard (and few state standards) for workplace violence. Meanwhile there were more than 26,000 workplace injuries related to violence in 2013, including nearly 400 deaths. Women workers in health care and social assistance are most likely to face workplace violence. Go to dclabor.org for the complete list of 11 Things You Need to Know About Safety for Workers Memorial Day.
On today's labor calendar, NoVA Labor’s Stop Fast Track Phonebank continues starting at 10am and the Baltimore Labor Council’s 34th Annual Committee on Political Education Dinner will be held tonight starting at 7pm; Go to dclabor.org and click on calendar for complete details.
In today's labor history, a coal mine collapsed in Eccles, West Virginia on this date in 1914, killing 181 workers; in 1924, a total of 119 died in the Benwood, West Virginia coal mine disaster; and in 1970, Congress created OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In 1989, the AFL-CIO set April 28 as “Workers Memorial Day” to honor the hundreds of thousands of workers killed and injured on the job every year. On this date in 1993, the first “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” was held, promoted by the Ms. Foundation to boost self-esteem of girls with invitations to a parent’s workplace.
Today's labor quote is by Mother Jones, who said:
“Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”
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