“When I served as Michigan’s top labor official under former Governor Jennifer Granholm, the most heart-wrenching part of my job was writing letters to the spouses or next of kin of workers who had died on the job. We must make it a priority to come as close as possible to zeroing out workplace fatalities altogether.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township), longtime union organizer, member of the House Education and Labor Committee and the House Labor Caucus, released the following statement recognizing Workers’ Memorial Day:
“This Workers’ Memorial Day, my heart goes out to all those who have become ill, were injured or lost loved ones on the job. Every worker in this country deserves safety, dignity and respect and the pandemic has illuminated that far too many workers do not have those basic rights. According to AFL-CIO’s 2022 ‘Death on the Job Report,’ 340 workers died each day in 2020 from hazardous working conditions, 4,764 workers were killed due to workplace injury and an estimated 120,000 workers died from occupational diseases in the United States. When I served as Michigan’s top labor official under former Governor Jennifer Granholm, the most heart-wrenching part of my job was writing letters to the spouses or next of kin of workers who had died on the job. We must make it a priority to come as close as possible to zeroing out workplace fatalities altogether.
“I came to Congress to be a voice for the working people of this country, and I believe fervently that every worker should have the right to organize and bargain collectively for better working conditions and livable wages. Many times, it is the health and safety conditions of their workplace that motivates workers to speak out. According to a new report from the Strategic Organizing Center, Amazon workers sustained 38,334 injuries on the job in 2021—and 89% of these were serious injuries. No worker should ever have to jeopardize their health or safety for a paycheck. Today, we are witnessing a remarkable movement across our nation of workers who have been exploited, underpaid and denied decent benefits for far too long. Workers are standing in solidarity in record numbers and forming unions to call attention to unsafe working environments and advocate for a better quality of life.
“Over a year ago, I was proud to help lead the effort in the House of Representatives to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act. This critical piece of legislation empowers private sector workers to speak out against poor working conditions and organize for safer workplaces and imposes meaningful penalties on any employer who stands in their way. I remain committed to seeing this legislation signed into law.
“On this solemn day, we honor the memory of all those who have lost their lives on the job and recommit to fighting for a worker-led movement to make workplaces safe for everyone.”
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-statement-workers-memorial-day
