Workers’ Memorial Day Celebrated
On April 28, 1970, American workers
won a great victory with the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health
Act. Deaths and injuries from our workplaces began a dramatic decline that
continued until anti-worker right wingers began to block the process after
1980. Each year, unionists commemorate those killed or injured from their work.
We also rededicate ourselves to the fight for improved workplace safety.
This year, UAW Local 276 at General Motors unveiled a
new monument for Workers Memorial Day in front of their hall in Grand Prairie.
It reads, "In remembrance of those who have passed away from a workplace
related injury or disease.”
The Dallas Central Labor Council carried out a
memorial service on the evening of April 28. It was a joint effort with the
newly-forming North Texas chapter of the National Interfaith Committee on
Worker Justice, a church-related organization.
The historical occasion in 2004 is especially
highlighted by efforts of anti-union right-wingers to further erode our rights
to workers compensation. California has already passed new legislation that
will deny workers the right to pick their own doctor, and the Texas Workers
Compensation Commission is bent on doing the same.
Ed Sills of the Texas AFL-CIO recently wrote this:
“The Sunset Advisory Commission has issued a report
on the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission that severely criticizes the
agency's performance and argues that the current
system ill serves both injured workers and employers. Among potential options
laid
out for addressing problems in the system are an
HMO-like system for steering injured workers to doctors and changes in the
governance of TWCC. The report, which can be read as
a preview of the issues before the Texas Legislature next regular legislative
session, is available at: http://www.sunset.state.tx.us/79threports/twcc/twcc.pdf.”
The TWCC has three employer commissioners and three
employee commissioners. Union groups, guided by unionized doctors, are
attending hearings as this is written.
UAW 276 President Jimmy Conway is proud of the Workers Memorial Day
monument unveiled April 28, 2004.