Workers’ Memorial Day may be over, but stories and
photos are still coming in.
In New York City on Tuesday, Teamsters showed up to
an event honoring the Local 272 member who was killed in a parking garage
during Hurricane Sandy. In this photo, Matthew Bruccoleri, Secretary-Treasurer
of New York City’s Local 272, speaks at the event, which took place at the
garage where the Teamster member died.
On Monday, Teamsters attended an event where David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, read a Workers’ Memorial Day
proclamation issued by President Obama. The event also featured acting
Secretary of Labor Seth Harris and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety
and Health Joseph Main and family members who have lost loved ones. A panel
discussion on the importance of safety and health protections for temporary and
contingent workers followed. At the conclusion of the program in the César E. Chávez
Memorial Auditorium, participants paid a visit to the memorial American Dogwood
tree planted two years ago for a short ceremony and a moment of silence in
memory of the workers who have lost their lives on the job.
Below you’ll find portions of the proclamation by
President Obama for Workers’ Memorial Day:
At the turn of the 20th century, laborers
faced hazardous conditions. Factory doors were locked from the outside, which
prevented quick evacuation in emergencies. A combination of shoddy equipment
and fatigue from long shifts made serious injury and death all too common.
Career-ending injuries often led to poverty and starvation.
From mine shafts to railroads to factory
floors, workers began to speak out. Thanks to generations of union organizers
and advocates, conditions slowly improved. But it was not until decades later
that our laws assured the right to a safe workplace. The Federal Coal Mine
Health and Safety Act of 1969 established comprehensive health and safety
standards for the mining industry, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act
of 1970 enacted similar standards for all workers. These statutes remain the
cornerstone of our protections today, and my Administration remains committed
to enforcing them by ensuring workers know their rights, worksites comply with
the law, and wrongdoers are held accountable.
Today, our thoughts and prayers are with
all those who have lost a loved one to a workplace accident or work-related
illness. But we owe them more than prayers. We owe them action and
accountability. While we cannot eliminate all risk from the world's most
dangerous professions, we can guarantee that when a worker steps up to an
assembly line or into a mine shaft, their country stands alongside them,
protecting their safety and their stake in the American dream.
