Message from John Sweeney

Dear Trade Unionist: On April 28, 2005, the labor movement will once again observe Workers Memorial Day to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections. The theme of this year's Workers Memorial Day is “Good Jobs. Safe Jobs. Protect Workers Now.” For decades unions have led the struggle for improved working conditions, good wages and benefits. Unions have won laws and protections that have made workplaces safer for all workers. Unions paved the way to make health care and pensions basic benefits for millions. Now, many of those gains that provide security and opportunity for working families are threatened. Our fight for safer workplaces has become harder as the Bush administration has worked with business supporters to overturn or block needed worker protections. In the next four years, renewed assaults on the OSH Act are expected. Our fight for good jobs continues, as corporations move to export jobs and cut pay and benefits. This Workers Memorial Day we urge you to get involved and organize actions, activities, or observances in your workplaces and communities to highlight the toll of job injuries and deaths, as well as the staggering loss of good jobs. Make it clear that the labor movement will continue to fight to make workers' issues a priority and to keep and create good safe jobs in this country. For additional information and to order copies of materials, please contact the AFL-CIO Department of Safety and Health at 202-637-5367. Please join us on Workers Memorial Day, April 28, to honor the victims of workplace injury and illness and to keep on fighting for the promise of safe jobs for all workers.

 Sincerely,

 John J. Sweeney President