Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in working conditions. But the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains enormous. Each year more than 60,000 workers die from job injuries and illnesses and another six million are injured. The unions of the AFL-CIO remember these workers on April 28, Workers Memorial Day.

The first Workers Memorial Day was observed in 1989. April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of OSHA -- the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the day of a similar remembrance in Canada. Every year, hundreds of communities and work sites recognize workers who have been killed or injured on the job. Trade unionists around the world now mark April 28 as an International Day of Mourning.

In Philadelphia again this year, BMWE members joined other PHILAPOSH (Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety & Health) members in honoring those who lost their lives in the performance of their duties.

The 11^th Annual Workers Memorial Day funeral ceremony in Philadelphia began with a breakfast during which several guest speakers spoke, including Bob Wages, Executive Vice President of PACE (Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union) and William Lucy, AFSCME International Secretary-Treasurer.

Lucy, who has been secretary-treasurer of AFSCME since 1972, worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the struggle for civil rights. Lucy noted that "public policy is made on the basis of who has the power" and suggested that the "insensitivity of our government" might be lessened if "Congressmen would spend just one day working with us; maybe then they would understand."

At 11:00 several hundred workers joined the funeral procession and walked to the Great Plaza at Penns Landing on the Delaware river. Many wore signs with the names and dates of those who lost their lives at work in the greater Philadelphia area.

The closing ceremony was somber as the names of those who lost their lives were read while Amazing Grace was played on the bagpipes. The reading was followed by casting red flowers into the Delaware river, symbolizing continuing life flow and reaffirming the struggle to prevent injury, disease and death on the job. During this ceremony a tugboat on the river silently sent up sprays of water in commemoration of the dead.

Jed Dodd, General Chairmen of the BMWE Pennsylvania Federation, read the names of the BMWE brothers who died at work in the last year.

But BMWE members know we must do more than simply remember on Workers Memorial Day. We must take responsibility to point out hazards to management and take precautions to protect ourselves and our fellow workers. We must continue to push -- and push hard -- for the safety laws and agreement protections that are long-term solutions. We must press -- and press hard -- our government agencies and elected officials to make safe, healthy workplaces a top priority.

Despite the fact that today we have the research, technology and know-how to make major improvements in health and safety, our struggle is getting more difficult. Why? Because progress is constantly stalled by the "profits-before-people" railroads and their allies in government.

"Nevertheless, we will continue our struggle, and we will win. Our lives depend on it." (Stephen P. Yokich, UAW President.)

We Will Not Forget

Fred Allen

CSX

March 3, 1998

Michael Corcoran

UP

October 11, 1998

Gilles Guilbault

CP

March 2, 1999

Kenneth Halker

CSX

November 23, 1998

Alan Jurgens

UP

December 22, 1998

Gary Osborn

CSX

November 10, 1998