WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued by Sonny Hall, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), commemorating the April 28 Workers Memorial Day, honoring those who have lost their lives at work and renewing the fight for greater health and safety protections for workers:
“This year when we honor Workers Memorial Day, we do so with great sadness in our hearts. The September terrorist attacks killed thousands of workers, many of whom were our union brothers and sisters. On September 11 — and on too many other days throughout the year — transportation workers lost their lives while on the job, while helping move a nation.
“We’ve heard much in recent months about how the men and women of September 11 are our nation’s heroes. On Workers Memorial Day, we must ask the question, how do we treat our heroes? Flight attendants, who saw 25 of their colleagues die that day, still lack OSHA protections. Too many transportation workers still face the debilitating effects and dangers of ergonomics hazards and chronic fatigue. And among too many employers, dealing with worker safety training needs remains an afterthought. We should honor our heroes through strong new laws and regulations protecting the safety and security of passengers and employees throughout our transportation system. Good sounding rhetoric will not save a single life.
“The American labor movement has long been at the forefront of making our workplaces safer, and we have decades of progress to be proud of. But going to work is still far too dangerous. There were over 6,000 workplace fatalities in 2000 — an average of 16 per day — and 43 percent were transportation-related. 50,000 die each year from occupational diseases.
“Repetitive stress and strain injuries — also known as ergonomic hazards — injure and cripple more than 1.8 million workers each year. The Bush administration’s response to this health crisis has been appalling — voluntary, toothless guidelines that ignore the excruciating pain millions of Americans bring home from work every day. Moreover, the White House’s fiscal year 2003 budget proposal wants to reduce money for Labor Department worker health and safety inspections in America’s workplaces.
“On Workers Memorial Day we honor our fallen brothers and sisters by vowing to never forget them and by pledging to redouble our efforts to make America a safer place to work.”
TTD represents 34 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit www.ttd.org.