USA: AFL-CIO – Unions are getting geared up for virtual campaigning

From AFL-CIO director of health and safety, Rebecca Reindel

Colleagues,

Workers Memorial Day, April 28, is just around the corner. This year is especially challenging for everyone, as we are in the midst of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic — a major crisis for workers, our families, our country and the world. We know each of you and your communities are struggling in different ways. Our hearts are with you.

It is more important now than ever for the labor movement to commemorate those we have lost on the job, and to renew our fight for stronger safety and health protections and the need to speak up for workers’ rights. This Workers Memorial Day, the theme is: “Protect Our Rights. Speak Up for Safe Jobs.”  AFL-CIO President Trumka’s letter announcement in online since we cannot mail it to you this year. Please join us this April 28 to honor the victims of workplace injury and illness and to keep on fighting for the promise of safe jobs for all workers.

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, we have fought back against the Trump administration, who has weakened worker protections at the very time they need to be strengthened to protect our communities, who has allowed industry associations to hold back common sense measures that would prevent workplace exposure to this virus, who did not heed the labor movement’s call early and did not act quickly enough to secure testing, workplace plans and protective equipment in the U.S. Last week, the first U.S. health care workers died from COVID-19 because they did not have the protections they needed to care for patients at work. We are hearing about flight attendant and manufacturing worker COVID-19 fatalities, too. This is criminal. This could have been prevented.

We must continue to fight back. We cannot and will not let the Trump administration leave workers unprotected as they battle this disaster. We will not let them turn back the clock and destroy the progress we have made to keep workers safe.

Please use the resources below when planning for this year’s Workers Memorial Day. It may be different than other years, but commemorating this day is more crucial than ever. Please reach out to us with any questions, concerns, comments along the way.

Materials:
AFL-CIO website at: www.aflcio.org/WorkersMemorialDay

Please also access these flyers in English and Spanish and poster and sticker artwork directly here. We want you to use these digital resources since hard copies are not available at this time.

Please note that our building is currently closed so we are not currently filling and shipping orders. However, we are keeping track of orders that come in so please feel free to place them. Once our building reopens, we will reach out to you for confirmation that your order is still needed, at which time it will be processed.

Workers Memorial Day Events:

Planning events will be different this year because we probably won’t be gathering in person. That’s okay. We still urge you to get involved and organize actions, activities, or observances for your workplaces and communities to highlight the toll of job injuries and deaths; demand that elected officials put workers’ well-being above corporate interests; and demand jobs that are safe, healthy and pay fair wages. This year, as every year, we will organize to make it clear that the labor movement will defend the right of every worker to a safe job and fight until that promise is fulfilled.

Even if we are not getting together in person, trade unionists around the country and globe will organize our communities and workplaces to observe Workers Memorial Day. Alternative ideas for events, actions and activities are in our flyer, available in English and Spanish. We also would like to hear about new and innovative ways you’re planning events this year, given social distancing measures.

Please share your event with us here.

Workers Memorial Day Toolkit:
Coming soon! To assist you with your planned events or activities, we soon will be distributing our Workers Memorial Day Toolkit. It will include talking points, sample materials for media outreach, worker safety and health facts, state-by-state safety and health data, COVID-19 facts and other information. Please use this in your commemoration and advocacy efforts.

How to reach out to us about Workers Memorial Day:
oshmail@aflcio.org or 202-637-5305

Hashtags you can use to build solidarity online around Workers Memorial Day:
#IWMD2020 #WMD2020 #1uSafety

Spain: Detener la pandemia en el trabajo

El 28 de abril se celebra la Jornada Internacional de Conmemoración, para recordar y reclamar acciones respecto a los trabajadores muertos, discapacitados, lesionados o enfermos a causa de su trabajo. Este año la jornada se centrará evidentemente en la pandemia de COVID 19.

Aunque todo el mundo está afectado por esta crisis, los trabajadores se encuentran en primera línea. El personal sanitario en particular está arriesgando su vida para seguir con su labor de cuidar a los enfermos. Hay personas que trabajan en centros de atención para personas mayores que cuidan al grupo de personas más vulnerable. Pero también necesitamos transporte, trabajadores de supermercados y proveedores de servicios esenciales para para mantener la economía en marcha. La gente debería agradecer a estos trabajadores porque si no puedes comprar comida, entonces no puedes mantener a tu familia sostenida y saludable ”, dijo Sharan Burrow.

La Jornada Internacional de Conmemoración 2020 se celebrará en apoyo a todos esos valientes trabajadores y para rememorar a todas las personas que han muerto, enfermado o se han lesionado realizando su trabajo.

Las medidas de distanciamiento social y de confinamiento probablemente harán imposible la organización de reuniones y eventos presenciales. Si tienen alguna idea respecto a actividades que podrían llevarse a cabo, agradeceríamos las compartan con nosotros enviando un email a esp@ituc-csi.org. Publicaremos sus sugerencias en el sitio web de la campaña https://28april.org/.

https://www.ituc-csi.org/detener-la-pandemia-en-el-trabajo

France: Stoppons la pandémie au travail

Le 28 avril marque la Journée internationale de commémoration des travailleuses ou des travailleurs, qui a pour but de rendre hommage aux travailleurs décédés, devenus invalides, blessés ou malades à cause de leur travail en organisant des actions. Le thème de cette année porte évidemment sur la pandémie de Covid-19.

Bien que tout le monde soit touché par la crise, les travailleurs se trouvent en première ligne. Les professionnels de la santé en particulier risquent leur vie en réalisant leur travail pour prendre soin des malades. Il y a des personnes qui travaillent dans des établissements de soins pour personnes âgées et s’occupent du groupe de personnes le plus vulnérable. Mais nous avons également besoin de transports, de travailleurs de supermarchés et de prestataires de services essentiels pour maintenir l’économie. Les gens devraient remercier ces travailleurs car si vous ne pouvez pas acheter de nourriture, vous ne pouvez pas maintenir votre famille en vie et en bonne santé », a déclaré Sharan Burrow.

La Journée internationale de commémoration des travailleuses et des travailleurs 2020 sera organisée pour soutenir tous ces travailleurs courageux, ainsi que pour rendre hommage aux personnes décédées, malades ou blessées en raison de leur travail.

Compte tenu des mesures de distanciation sociale et de confinement, les réunions et événements physiques ne pourront vraisemblablement pas être organisés. Si vous souhaitez partager des idées concernant des activités virtuelles, veuillez nous en faire part en envoyant un courriel à esp@ituc-csi.org. Nous les publierons sur notre site web consacré à la campagne https://28april.org/.

https://www.ituc-csi.org/stoppons-la-pandemie-au-travail

Germany: DIE PANDEMIE BEI DER ARBEIT STOPPEN

Der 28. April ist der Internationale Gedenktag für die Opfer von Arbeitsunfällen (International Workers’ Memorial Day), an dem wir derer gedenken und für die eintreten, die bei der Arbeit ums Leben gekommen sind, sich eine Behinderung, Verletzung oder sonstige Beeinträchtigung zugezogen haben. Im Fokus steht in diesem Jahr selbstverständlich die globale Covid-19-Pandemie.

Von der Krise sind zwar alle betroffen, aber Arbeitnehmer*innen stehen an vorderster Front.

“Vor allem die Beschäftigten im Gesundheitswesen riskieren ihr eigenes Leben, wenn sie zur Arbeit gehen und die Kranken versorgen. Es arbeiten Menschen in Senioreneinrichtungen, die sich um die Schwächsten in unserer Gesellschaft kümmern. Außerdem brauchen wir Beschäftigte im Verkehrswesen, in Supermärkten und in wesentlichen Dienstleistungen, um die Wirtschaft aufrechtzuerhalten. Diesen Arbeitnehmer*innen sollten wir danken, denn wenn wir kein Essen kaufen können, können wir unsere Familie nicht versorgen und sicherstellen, dass sie gesund bleibt”, erklärt IGB-Generalsekretärin Sharan Burrow.

Der Internationale Gedenktag 2020 steht im Zeichen der Unterstützung all dieser mutigen Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer und der Erinnerung an die Menschen, die bei der Arbeit verstorben, erkrankt oder verunglückt sind.

Social Distancing und Ausgangsbeschränkungen werden aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach zur Folge haben, dass Zusammenkünfte und Veranstaltungen nicht möglich sind. Falls Ihr Ideen für virtuelle Aktivitäten habt, teilt diese bitte mit uns und schickt sie per E-Mail an esp@ituc-csi.org, damit wir sie auf unserer Kampagnen-Webseite https://28april.org/ veröffentlichen können.

https://www.ituc-csi.org/die-pandemie-bei-der-arbeit

 

Global: 28 April – Stop the pandemic at work

April 28 is International Workers’ Memorial Day or Workers’ Mourning Day. This is the international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work. The focus this year is of course the global COVID-19 pandemic.

While everyone is affected by the crisis, workers are on the front line. “Healthcare workers in particular are risking their lives doing their job to take care of the sick. There are people working in aged care facilities looking after the most vulnerable group of people. But then we also need transport, supermarket workers, and providers of for essential services, to keep the economy going. People should thank these workers because if you can’t buy food, then you can’t keep your family sustained and healthy” said Sharan Burrow.

International Workers’ Memorial Day 2020 will be held in support of all these courageous workers and in remembrance of the people who have died or become sick or injured while doing their job.

Social distancing and lockdown measures most likely mean that physical meetings and events will not be possible. If you have ideas for virtual activities, please share them with us by sending an email to esp@ituc-csi.org. We will make them public on our campaign website https://28april.org/.

News release • French • Spanish • German

ITUC safety webpages

Russia: ITUC – Stop the pandemic at work

 

28 April 2020 – Stop the pandemic at work

April 28 is International Workers’ Memorial Day or Workers’ Mourning Day. This is the international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work. The focus this year is of course the global COVID-19 pandemic.

USA: USMWF will hold a Facebook live event to mark 28 April

The organisation Union Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) has taken a creative approach to marking International Workers’ Memorial Day in the time of the Covid-19 outbreak.

On April 28, 2020 at 7pm cst  USMWF will host a Facebook LIVE event that you can watch from the safety of your own home.

The event will mark the USMWF’s First National Workers’ Memorial Day Ceremony.

IWMD posters from ITUC – Bad jobs can break your heart

The global union confederation ITUC will soon be making available International Workers’ Memorial Day posters in English, French and Spanish. More details to follow. #iwmd20

USA: Workers’ Memorial Week resources from NationalCOSH

On February 26 the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health ( National COSH) hosted an informative webinar outlining resources available to ensure an engaging and powerful Workers’ Memorial Week (WMW). WMW webinar and PPT slides

National COSH has also produced a very comprehensive WMW Resource page.

You can submit  your own WMW event info via this link and National COSH will list your events and help you promote it.

National COSH Team
Jessica E. Martinez, MPH
Co-Executive Director
National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH)
www.coshnetwork.org
jessica@nationalcosh.org

Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living