12 Workers Die on the Job Every Day in the United States

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Over the next several days there will be thousands of people participating in Workers' Memorial Day observances throughout Pennsylvania in remembrance of fallen co-workers, friends, and family as they renew their commitment to making their workplaces safer.

Labor, clergy, community, and elected officials will help in leading the observances which include: the reading of names of deceased and injured workers, the tolling of memorial bells, candlelight vigils, memorial services and remembrances. Members of the public and the survivors of victims of workplace injuries and death have been invited to attend and participate. These events are being carried out by Local Unions, Area Labor Federations, and Central Labor Councils along with other organizations committed to safe jobs and protecting human life. Dramatic visuals for still and video news photographers will be available at many of these events. These events can be accessed on our Pennsylvania AFL-CIO web-site, www.paaflcio.org.

"Safety laws and regulations don't kill jobs – but unsafe jobs do kill workers," Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said. "Our elected officials should be making sure that all workers are protected, by keeping safety standards and regulations up to date and enforced. They should also be strengthening the voice of workers to advocate on their own behalf for safer jobs, not attacking their rights to advocate effectively for themselves, their families, and all workers," Bloomingdale said.

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder stated, "virtually every safety and health protection on the books today is there because of working men and women who joined together in unions to win these protections. We must do more to fight back against corporate interests that stand in the way of our rights to create safe jobs.  We consider one life lost one too many. Our fight will continue until every worker can go to work and return home safe and healthy at the end of the day,"  Snyder said.

Workers' Memorial Day, observed on April 28, the anniversary of the signing of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, (OSHA), over 4 decades ago, has been designated as the time to remember fallen workers and surviving families and to emphasize the promise of safe jobs.

With the signing of OSHA, was the promise of the right to a safe workplace. In spite of this promise, and the commitment and efforts of both workers and enlightened employers, 12 workers die on-the-job every day in the United States. In fact, a total of 150 U.S. workers die each day, (more than 50, 000 workers each year) as a result of exposure to health and safety hazards on the job.

2014 WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS:

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014

Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO and the Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety and Health (Philaposh) 26^th Annual Workers' Memorial Day Breakfast and Observance
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 25, 2014 (Registration begins at 8:30 AM and the breakfast program begins at 9:15 AM. Procession (March) to Penn's Landing at 10:45 AM.
EVENT DESCRIPTION: Brief speakers program, march to Penn's Landing, prayer offerings, families of deceased workers invited, reading of names of deceased workers, casting of flowers into Delaware River as remembrance, bagpipes by Brian Wydlitz.
SPEAKERS: Pat Eiding, President of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO. Other speakers TBA.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014

Schuylkill County Central Labor Council Workers' Memorial Day Observance
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 10:00 AM
PLACE: At the Miner's Statue at the intersection of Routes 209 and 901, Minersville, PA. In front of the Turkey Hill mini-mart.
EVENT: The Coal Miner's Statue is a historic tribute to the Anthracite Coal Miners. There will be a wreath dedication and a brief speakers program.

Lehigh Valley 53^rd Annual Awards Dinner
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 5:30 PM
PLACE: Northampton Memorial Community Center, 1601 Laubach Ave. Northampton, PA 18067
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Congressman Matt Cartwright
TICKETS: Single seats are $50. Tables of 8 are $400

SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014

Lehigh Valley Central Labor Council 2014 Workers' Memorial Day
DATE/TIME: Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 1:00 PM
PLACE:  Bethlehem Rose Garden, 8^th Ave. and Union Blvd. Bethlehem, PA
SPEAKERS: Gregg Potter, President, Lehigh Valley CLC and (TBA)
EVENT: Memorial services (Names of deceased workers read as bell tolls after each. Scholarships awarded to workers, and the children or spouses of workers, injured or killed on the job and who are financially effected as a result.)

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014

Harrisburg Region Central Labor Council Workers' Memorial Day Breakfast and Memorial Service
DATE/TIME: Monday, April 28, 2014 beginning at 8:30 AM with Breakfast followed by the Memorial Service at 9:45 AM
PLACE: Breakfast buffet at the Passage to India restaurant, 525 South Front Street, Harrisburg, PA. The Memorial Service will be held at the Monument at Labors' Grove a very short distance from the restaurant.
SPEAKERS: TBA
BREAKFAST TICKETS: $12 in advance. $15 at the door. Call the Labor Council office (717) 561-7830

Unions of the Allegheny County Central Labor Council Workers' Memorial Day Observance
DATE/TIME: Monday, April 28, 2014 at 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
PLACE: Market Square, Downtown Pittsburgh
SPEAKERS:   Tefere Gebre, Vice President, AFL-CIO
                      Jack Shea, President, Allegheny County Central Labor Council
                      Jason Fincke, Executive Director, Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania
                      Darren Kelly, Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local 1
EVENT: Memorial service and observance (Reading of names of deceased workers and the tolling of the bell after each. Families of deceased workers are invited to participate.

Mercer County Central Labor Council Workers' Memorial Day Observance
DATE/TIME: Monday, April 28, 2014 at 12:00 Noon
PLACE: Mercer County Courthouse Rotunda, Mercer, PA
EVENT: Memorial Service includes a brief speakers program, reading of names of deceased workers and tolling of bells. Event is held at noontime and attracts many workers from the courthouse and nearby workplaces.

Erie Crawford Central Labor Council Workers' Memorial Day
DATE/TIME: Monday, April 28, 2014 at 6:00 PM
PLACE: Erie City Council Chambers, City Hall, 626 State Street, Erie, PA 16501
EVENT: Prayer service, brief remarks by speakers (TBA), reading of names of deceased workers and the tolling of the bells, wreath laying at the Workers' Memorial in Perry Square, across the street from City Hall.

Greater Johnstown Regional Central Labor Council 25^th Annual Workers' Memorial Banquet
DATE/TIME: Monday, April 28, 2014 (Brief interfaith service beginning at 6:00 PM. Dinner will be served at 6:15 PM
EVENT: Memorial banquet and scholarship awards announced.
PLACES: Aces on Chestnut Street, 316 Chestnut Street, Johnstown, PA 15906
TICKETS: $25 each

York-Adams Central Labor Council 25^th Annual Workers' Memorial Day Observance
DATE/TIME: Monday, April 28, 2014 at 6:00 PM
PLACE: Kiwanis Lake, Parkway Blvd and North Newberry Street.
SPEAKERS: Pamela Gay, York County Coroner
                    Tom Santone, President, York-Adams Central Labor Council
EVENT: Memorial service will focus on the remembrance of seven workers who were killed in fatal
workplace accidents last year in Adams and York Counties as reported by the coroners of those two counties.

Carbon County Central Labor Chapter Workers' Memorial Observance
DATE/TIME: Monday, April 28, at (TBA)
PLACE: Bunker Hill Cemetery, Franklin Heights Road, Weissport, PA
EVENT: Memorial Service and wreath laying

SOURCE Pennsylvania AFL-CIO