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This past week, we took some time to remember those we lost to workplace accidents and illnesses. Let’s never forget their names as we continue our work for healthy and safe jobs. Continue reading North America: This past week, we took some time to remember those we lost to workplace accidents and illnesses
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America’s labor movement is fighting for a time where no one has to go to work in fear of injury, sickness, or death.
On International Workers’ Memorial Day and everyday, we “Mourn the Dead, and Fight Like Hell for the Living!” #IWMD2022
#iwmd22
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New NDLON Report sheds light on day laborers as second responders in climate disasters!
This week, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network launched its new REPORT: “Recovering from Climate Disasters: Immigrant Day Laborers as Second Responders.”
The report launch is part of a week-long series of actions and events in commemoration of #WorkersMemorialDay #IWMD22.
After Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans in 2021, NDLON’s Disaster Response Brigade of worker-trainers conducted outreach and training across the impacted area, surveying day laborers on wages, health hazards, and awareness of their rights, while also sharing resources and documenting the realities for working people on the ground in the midst of the recovery.
The climate crisis is exacerbating a crisis of abuse and unsafe work conditions for workers nationwide – and we need to respond and organize accordingly.
Check out the report and share your support for #SecondResponders on social media!
Read full report, link in our bio.
#SecondResponders #NDLON #DisasterRelief #ClimateJustice #WorkerMigrantJustice
| [Este es un mensaje bilingüe. Más abajo en español]
You know who they are: the employers who put profits over people. Join National COSH as we call out 12 of these dirty companies and lift up the voices of the workers who are courageous enough to stand up to say “NO MORE.” We’ll commemorate Worker’s Memorial Week with our release of the 2022 Dirty Dozen Report this Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 12 noon MT / 11 am PT. This release event will be moderated by our own Jessica E. Martinez and will feature a panel of workers from some of the “Dirty Dozen” employers. We have also invited the press to hear their stories and get the word out that workplace injuries and fatalities are NOT accidents, but preventable incidents. We know we can save lives and reduce illnesses and injuries when we join together and ensure that employers listen to workers and follow established safety protocols. Workers’ Memorial Week is a time to mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living. We hope you can join us on April 27th. In solidarity, Jessica Martinez & Marcy Goldstein-Gelb Ya sabes quiénes son: les empresaries que ponen las ganancias sobre las personas. Únete a COSH National mientras llamamos a 12 de estas empresas sucias y levantamos las voces de les trabajadores que son lo suficientemente valientes como para ponerse de pie y decir “NO MÁS”. Resaltaremos la Semana Conmemorativa de les Trabajadores Fallecides con la publicación del informe La Docena Sucia de 2022 este miércoles 27 de abril de 2022 a las 2 pm Este / 1 pm Centro / 12 del mediodía Montaña / 11 am Pacifico. Este evento de lanzamiento será moderado por nuestra co-Directora Jessica E. Martínez y contará con un panel de trabajadores de algunos de les empleadores de la “Docena Sucia”. También hemos invitado a la prensa a escuchar sus historias y hacer correr la voz de que las lesiones y muertes en el lugar de trabajo NO son accidentes, sino incidentes prevenibles. Sabemos que podemos salvar vidas y reducir enfermedades y lesiones cuando nos unimos y nos aseguramos de que les empleadores escuchen a les trabajadores y sigan los protocolos de seguridad establecidos. La Semana Conmemorativa de les Trabajadores Fallecides es un momento para conmemorar a los muertos y luchar con toda el alma por les vives. Esperamos que puedas unirte a nosotros el 27 de abril. En solidaridad, Jessica Martínez y Marcy Goldstein-Gelb |
Reproduced in full with the kind permission of the author: Jordan Barab – the article appeared first on 20 April 2022 in his excellent newsletter Confined Space
April 28 is Workers Memorial Day — a day dedicated to memorializing those killed on the job and rededicating ourselves to fighting for the living. April 28 was picked because it’s the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. And coincidentally, April is an especially tragic time to remember some of the most serious workplace tragedies in American — and world — history.
Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, Raleigh County, WV, April 5, 2010: An explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine killed 29 miners. The Mine Safety and Health Administration concluded that flagrant safety violations contributed to the explosion. It issued 369 citations at that time, assessing $10.8 million in penalties
Ammonium Nitrate Explosion, Texas City, TX, April 16, 1947: A fire on the French-registered vessel SS Grandcamp detonated her cargo of about 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate. This started a chain reaction of fires and explosions in other ships and nearby oil-storage facilities, ultimately killing at least 581 people, including all but one member of the Texas City fire department. It was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history and one of history’s largest non-nuclear explosions.
West Fertilizer Explosion, West, TX, April 17, 2013: An ammonium nitrate explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer Company storage and distribution facility in West, Texas. Fifteen people were killed, including 12 firefighters, more than 160 were injured, and more than 150 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
Deepwater Horizon Explosion, April 20, 2012: A fire and explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig killed 11 workers and resulted in the largest marine oil spill and environmental disaster in history.
L’Ambiance Plaza Collapse, Bridgeport, CT, April 23, 1987: The L’Ambiance Plaza apartment building collapsed due to a faulty lift slab construction technique while under construction, killing 28 construction workers.
Rana Plaza Factor Collapse, Bangladesh, April 24, 2013: The eight-story Rana Plaza factory building collapsed, killing 1134 people. The shops and the bank on the lower floors were immediately closed after cracks were discovered in the building the day before the collapse. But the building’s owners ignored warnings ordering garment workers to return the following day and the building collapsed during the morning rush-hour.
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster, Ukraine, USSR April 26, 1986: No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded during a safety test It was the worst nuclear disaster in history. Dozens of operators and response workers died due to massive radiation exposure and hundreds more from the nuclear fallout.
Willow Island Collapse, Willow Island, WV, April 27, 1978: A cooling tower under construction at the Pleasants Power Station at Willow Island, West Virginia, collapsed, killing 51 construction workers. It was the deadliest construction accident in U.S. history
Dear Friends & Allies,
Every year, during the week of April 28th, we join together with workers, worker centers, unions, and OSH advocates across the state and country to remember those we’ve lost to preventable workplace hazards and to renew the fight for safe & healthy workplaces.
Across California, regions are planning both virtual and in-person events, and will honor worker & community members who have passed away this past year, or at any point during the pandemic. We invite you to submit names, pictures, and/or stories of folks you’d like to include in this year’s Workers’ Memorial Week. Either respond directly to this email, or fill out our Google Form HERE (by Friday, 4/22).
We will be in touch again soon with updates on opportunities to participate in Workers’ Memorial Week in your region!
In Solidarity,
SoCalCOSH, UCLA-LOSH, UC Merced Community & Labor Center, UC Berkeley LOHP, and Worksafe
Estimados amigos y aliados,
Todos los años, durante la semana del 28 de abril, nos unimos a los trabajadores, los centros de trabajadores, los sindicatos y los defensores de la seguridad y la salud ocupacional de todo el estado y el país para recordar a las personas que hemos perdido por peligros laborales prevenibles y para renovar la lucha por la seguridad. y lugares de trabajo saludables.
En todo California, las regiones están planeando eventos virtuales y en persona, y honrarán a los trabajadores y miembros de la comunidad que fallecieron el año pasado o en cualquier momento durante la pandemia. Lo invitamos a enviar nombres, fotos y/o historias de las personas que le gustaría incluir en la Semana en Memoria de los Trabajadores de este año. Responda directamente a este correo electrónico o complete nuestro formulario de Google AQUÍ (antes del viernes 22 de abril).
¡Nos pondremos en contacto nuevamente pronto con actualizaciones sobre oportunidades para participar en la Semana Conmemorativa de los Trabajadores en su región!
En solidaridad,
SoCalCOSH, UCLA-LOSH, Centro Comunitario y Laboral de UC Merced, LOHP Berkeley y Worksafe
The AFL-CIO’s Workers Memorial Day toolkit is out:
Here, you can find talking points, sample press materials, and national and state by state data to use when planning your WMD events/commemorations. Materials are available in English and Spanish.
A message from Jessica E. Martinez and Marcy Goldstein-Gelb
Co-Executive Directors, National COSH
Friends,
Workers’ Memorial Week will begin on April 23rd this year and continue through May 1. Across the country and around the globe, we’ll see worker actions, vigils and events to honor workers who have been killed, injured, and made sick on the job.
Here is the National COSH 2022 WMW Toolkit, which includes:
Got a memorial event coming up in your workplace or community? Let us know here and we’ll add it to the WMW Action Map.
National COSH will release our 2022 Dirty Dozen report on unsafe employers on Wednesday, April 27 at 2 pm ET/1 pm CT/12 noon MT/ 11 am PT. If you’d like to join the release event on Zoom, please register here.
Thanks much – and if you have questions or need any assistance with an upcoming event, please contact National COSH at info@nationalcosh.org.
In solidarity,
Jessica E. Martinez
Marcy Goldstein-Gelb
Co-Executive Directors, National COSH
AFLO-CIO is gearing up for International Workers’ Memorial Day with a comprehensive suite of resources including briefings, information, posters, stickers, graphics and events listings available in English and Spanish. The details below are from Safety and Health Director Rebecca L. Reindel.
Colleagues,
Workers Memorial Day, April 28, is just around the corner. This year, the labor movement will commemorate those we have lost on the job and will organize to make the fundamental right of a safe job a reality for all workers. This year’s theme is “Organize! Safe Jobs Now.” Attached are AFL-CIO President Shuler’s letter, launching Workers Memorial Day planning this year and English and Spanish versions of this year’s flier.
Please join us this April 28 to honor the victims of workplace injury and illness and the call to organize for safe jobs for all workers. As we do every year, trade unionists around the country and globe will organize our communities and workplaces to observe Workers Memorial Day.
We will highlight the toll of job injuries and deaths; demand that elected officials put workers’ well-being above corporate interests; and demand safe jobs for all. This year, and every year, the labor movement will defend the right of every worker to a safe job and build collective power to make that right a reality.
Please use the resources below when planning for this year’s Workers Memorial Day and reach out to us with any questions, concerns, comments along the way.
Materials and Artwork:
Please scroll down our Workers Memorial Day home page to view and download this year’s materials and artwork: aflcio.org/workersmemorialday. These include posters, stickers, and fliers in English and Spanish. Stickers are available for “Organize! Safe Jobs Now” and for “Mourn for the Dead. Fight for the Living.”
Please place your order for materials here. You can either pick up materials in person at our Washington DC headquarters or have them shipped to you.
Workers Memorial Day Events:
We want to hear about your Workers Memorial Day plans! Please share your event with us so that we can include it on our map of events across the country.
Plan events, actions, activities and observances with suggestions in our flier. If gathering in person, especially indoors, please follow CDC’s guidelines on organizing large events and gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Toolkit Coming Soon:
Soon, we will be distributing more materials to help you plan your commemorations and advocacy efforts. These include talking points, sample materials for media outreach, worker safety and health facts, state-by-state safety and health data, fact sheets, digital resources, infographics and other information.
How to reach out to us about Workers Memorial Day:
oshmail@aflcio.org or 202-637-5341
Hashtags you can use to build solidarity online around Workers Memorial Day:
#IWMD2022 #WorkersMemorialDay #1uSafety
Rebecca L. Reindel, MS, MPH (she/her)
Safety and Health Director, AFL-CIO
815 Black Lives Matter Plaza, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006