On Workers’ Memorial Day—Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

LiUNA HQ - On March 16, 2010, Chris Jenkins - a husband, father of two and 25-year member of Laborers’ Local 81 - was killed while working on an interstate highway project in Lake Stanton, Ind. Chris was cold-patching potholes when he was struck by a drunken driver.
Today, on Workers’ Memorial Day, we urge the men and women of LIUNA to remember Chris and others who have become sick or injured or died while working to build America. Death or injury shouldn’t be the price of going to work. On Workers’ Memorial Day we should remember our fallen brothers and sisters and honor the living by fighting for better workplace protections.
While the Obama administration has made significant strides in protecting worker safety, more action is still needed. You can join the fight to improve workplace safety.  The Protecting America’s Workers Act which is before Congress right now would help by extending OSHA coverage to all workers, including public employees in over 20 states who currently have no protections at all, strengthen anti-discrimination and whistleblower protections, increase civil and criminal penalties and enhance worker and union rights