The newly appointed United States Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis honored the more than 5,000 workers who are killed on the job each year and the more than 50,000 who die from occupation illness and disease at National Labor College’s Workers Memorial Day ceremony. She joined union leaders and hundreds of members, college faculty, students and staff who were on hand for the groundbreaking of the new Workers Memorial to be constructed on the center of the College’s campus.
"It is appropriate that we dedicate this memorial at the National Labor College.Not only will this calm and quiet spot serve as a gathering place to pause and remember the men and women who have lost their lives while pursuing their livelihood, but it will serve as a reminder to future labor leaders about the importance of workplace safety," said Solis.
Solis also announced the sponsoring of an engraved brick in honor of Department of Labor Employees who gave their lives in service.
The Workers Memorial Day activities included a formal groundbreaking and bricklaying for the new National Workers Memorial to be constructed at the center of NLC campus.
According toDeath on the Job: The Toll of Neglect. issued Monday, April 27, in 2007, more than four million workers were injured and 5,657 workers were killed due to job hazards. Another 50,000-60,000 died due to occupational diseases. On an average day, 15 workers lose their lives as a result of workplace injuries and disease, and another 10,959 are injured.
In our nation, we have memorials that honor police or firefighters killed in the line of action; we have markers to tragedies like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and 9-1l,” said NLC President William Scheuerman. “The Workers Memorial is for all workers and all workplace tragedies and there is no more fitting place for this memorial than where it is today–the centerpiece of an institution devoted to the study of how to improve labor conditions.”