WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: At least three speakers who addressed those in attendance over the weekend at the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s 2024 Workers’ Memorial Event publicly lamented the fact that there were no media outlets there to cover the ceremony that honors those area Workers who went to work in the morning, but never came home at night.  But while there may have been no members of the mainstream media in attendance, WNYLaborToday.com was there - proving once again, that if not WNYLaborToday.com - who will report on what’s transpiring in the Western New York Labor Movement?  The answer is clear - NO ONE. 

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – For the 33rd time, the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council held its annual Workers’ Memorial commemoration at Reservoir Park in Niagara Falls on Saturday (May 4th) to honor those Workers who went to work in the morning, but never made it back home at night. 

There were renewed calls for both Organized Labor to remain vigilant and steadfast in protecting its Members while on the job, as well as calling on an array of City, County, State and Federally Elected Officials to pass legislation with increased fines and penalties that will hold business owners more accountable when it comes to the loss of life.

But what was different about this year’s event was the focus that was put on the deceased Workers’ families - who have been left to grieve, and the underscoring of how important it is to vote for candidates who truly have the concerns of Workers first and foremost in their minds.

Niagara-Orleans Labor Council President Jim Briggs (Pictured Below/WNYLaborToday.com Photos), who also serves as Sub-District Director of United Steelworkers (USW) District 4, had those sitting in their chairs inside a very large tent riveted to their seats as he read a letter from a family distraught about losing their loved one.

“We ‘spend a lot of time talking about the (Workers) who die’,” he said, “but ‘there are families out there - grieving.’  This letter talks about their loved one ‘spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.’  Another involves the daughter of a Worker who was killed on the job picking up his lunchbox and saying how her Father ‘was not going to be celebrating his grandchild’s first’ birthday.  ‘This is what happens when there is death on the job and with laws that don’t protect Workers - families are forced to grieve.’  ‘And nothing is going to (stop it happening again) until the penalty outweighs the cost of death.’  The numbers (of Workers dying on the job) ‘are going up and the State and Federal Government needs to fix it.’  Companies ‘are not afraid of being inspected’ (for unsafe working conditions).”

Bill Jakobi (pictured below), the United Way of Greater Niagara’s Labor Liaison to the Labor Council who served as Master of Ceremonies, echoed Briggs’ comments: “It is ‘unfortunate’ there are (54) names on our monument - Workers ‘who went to work and did not come home.’  ‘That shouldn’t be.’  Organized Labor ‘is fighting for safety (on the job) and that’s why we come together today.’  ‘Our job is not done.’  Each day, (340) Workers die and thousands more are injured.  ‘Our laws are too weak, but we lack the resources to protect’ Workers.  Unions are ‘fighting for safe jobs - for everyone.’  ‘We need to raise our collective voices and demand action.’”

The latest National AFL-CIO Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect (2024) report found that in 2022: 344 Workers died each day from hazardous working conditions; 5,486 Workers were killed on the job in the United States; An estimated 120,000 Workers died from occupational diseases; and The job fatality rate increased again to 3.7 per 100,000 Workers.

In addition, the report found: Workers of Color die on the job at a higher rate - Black and Latino Worker job fatality rates are disproportionate compared with all other Workers and are continuing to increase; Employers reported nearly 3.5 million work-related injuries and illnesses, an increase from the previous year; 43 Workers died from heat on the job - fatal and non-fatal data are an undercount of the real problem; Workplace homicides and workplace suicides increased 9% and 13%, respectively, from 2021 to 2022; Separately, unintentional overdoses at work increased 13% from 2021 to 2022; The rate of serious workplace violence injuries has increased to 4.3 per 10,000 Workers; Musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive motion injuries continue to be a major problem, accounting for 28% of all serious work-related injuries and illnesses in private industry; Under-reporting of all workplace injuries and illnesses is widespread - the true toll of work-related injuries and illnesses is 5.6 million to 8.4 million each year in private industry; and Chemical exposures continue to plague Working People, leading to debilitating, life-threatening diseases that are totally preventable.

The report also found that the cost of job injuries and illnesses is enormous, estimated at $174 billion to $348 billion a year - an undercount of the real impact on society, families and communities. (For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2024 (aflcio.org))

USW District 4 Director David Wasiura (pictured above) also spoke, saying: “There is ‘one thing common with us all under this tent - we are Workers.’  ‘We are all human.’  ‘We are all family.’  Look at the person sitting to the left of you and to the right of you.  That person ‘might not come home’ (from the job).  ‘We get up in the morning trying to figure out how to keep people alive.’  ‘We need to make the workplace safe for all’ Workers.  ‘And we vote.’  ‘Look inside yourself (to support those candidates who support Working People) because nothing means more.’”

Featured speaker Steve Sallman (pictured below), who serves as the USW’s Director of Healthy, Safety and Environment, told those who had gathered: “We are ‘working hard to protect’ Workers, ‘but unfortunately - more names are being added to the list.’  Since April (25th the USW has recorded) (24) occupational fatalities, ‘which is down three from the same time last year - but one too many.’  Sixteen were USW Members and one was killed in an act of workplace violence.  ‘All of their deaths were preventable.’  But OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration) ‘currently has only one Inspector for nearly (800,000) Workers.’  ‘No one should die for a paycheck.’  This is an ‘important’ election year.  Republicans are looking to ‘defund’ OSHA and ‘under the (former) Trump Administration they tried to defund’ the Health and Safety Board.  ‘That’s why elections matter.’  It’s President (Joe) Biden ‘that’s holding employers accountable.’  ‘Lives can be saved if you don’t look the other way.’  ‘So, let’s raise our voices and hold all accountable.’”

Newly elected U.S. Congressman Tim Kennedy (pictured below) of Buffalo, who replaces long-time Congressman Brian Higgins, was also in attendance and pledged: “Labor ‘has been an advocate for those on the job - and made a difference, but we have more work to do.’  ‘I will be a champion (for Labor) at the Federal level.’  Republicans ‘want to defund OSHA, but things will only get better because of you.’”

As he has done at a number of observances, the Reverend Patrick Bradley spoke during the outdoor portion of the observance, saying: “While the Labor Movement ‘flexed its muscles’ (over the past year with several major and high-profile Strikes and work actions that yielded historic contracts and wage increases) ‘and the wind is at Labor’s back, corporate greed and lack of (on the job) protections contributed to loss of life.’  ‘Remember, those Workers are also our neighbors, our family Members and friends - and we are diminished by their absence.’”

Also speaking was Ken Glennon (pictured above) of the Hard Hats Of Niagara Organization who reminded all of the history and sacrifices made by those 11,000 Workers who built the Niagara Power Project in just three years’ time.

Glennon, whose Father worked on the project, applauded those in attendance for coming to the event to remember those Workers who died on the job and the commitment made by Organized Labor for safe workplaces for all.