Workers all over the U.S. will join in ceremonies on April 28 to remember colleagues who have died, were injured or became ill on the job. Even though workplace safety has improved substantially with the passage of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and New York's Public Employee Safety and Health law (PESH), there is still a significant toll on workers, their families and society from workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses.
- VIDEO: Vice President Paul Pecorale on Workers Memorial Day.
NYSUT members primarily work in jobs that are perceived as very safe. The public doesn't see the numbers of NYSUT members who are diagnosed with occupational asthma every year; the broken bones and sprains from falls or heavy lifting; the mental and physical toll on employees from workplace violence at the hands of students, patients or clients; and the acute and long-term health problems from poor ergonomics or from chemical exposures.
Participate in a Workers Memorial Day event near you and remember your NYSUT colleagues and all workers who have suffered from workplace hazards. Printable materials, ideas for creating an event and information on events in your area can be found on these websites: www.aflcio.org/Issues/Job-Safety/WorkersMemorialDay and www.coshnetwork.org/workers-memorial-week-action.
— Wendy Hord