Workers Memorial Day

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Union members across the country commemorated Workers Memorial Day April 28. PEF President Ken Brynien and Secretary-Treasurer Arlea Igoe placed a wreath at the PEF memorial in Latham as a dozen participants stood under a rainy sky and said a silent prayer.

“Our fight for safer working conditions continues and becomes harder as the Bush administration has refused to act,” Brynien said. “Because of corporate interests, the administration has moved to roll back and weaken protections. With the election on the horizon, we will join with other unions to change the direction of this country and make safety issues for workers a priority.”

Later that day, more PEF members joined their brothers and sisters at a heartfelt service in the concourse of the New York State United Teachers headquarters to honor those who died on the job.

The service focused on eight men, ages 19 to 79. Some died from falling while working a construction job, others were struck or caught between equipment.

Participants laid purple and white tulips for each lost worker as Joe Fox, PEF vice president and president of the Capital District Area Labor Federation, read each name at the solemn ceremony.

“This is the part of the service I wish would change,” Fox said. “It’s terribly sad we have to read these names, as their deaths may have been prevented. It’s been too many years that we have been calling for stronger laws while New York workers die on the job.”

This year marked the 38th anniversary of the enactment of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).

Even though unions have fought to save hundreds of thousands of lives, nationally in 2006, 4.1 million workers were injured and 5,703 workers were killed due to job hazards. Another 50,000 died as a result of occupational diseases.

The famous Mother Jones quote, “Pray for the dead; and fight like hell for the living,” was the common thread among the speakers. Ed Jerome, OSHA Albany area director, focused on fatalities among small businesses. Jordan Wells described the despicable conditions farm workers endure.

M. Patricia Smith, commissioner of the state Department of Labor, shared a family story about a coal mining disaster.

“I am so impressed by this attendance and the feelings here.

I want to tell you a story I think about every year on this day,” Smith said.

“We were at a restaurant and my grandfather left the table to visit a couple. This was unusual for him to do. He was the town doctor and most people approached him.

“He was gone a long time. When he returned, I asked who the couple was. My grandfather said they lost six sons in the coal mining disaster, and it happened to be the first day of work for the youngest son. Then my grandfather said he delivered all the boys.

“Let’s also mourn for those who have been dying all of these years,” Smith said.

The Rev. Victor Collier from the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church concluded the service.

“We are all feeling and that is good,” Collier said. “It shows we haven’t lost our humanity. We need to change the world and not let the world change us.