“Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!”
– Mary Harris “Mother” Jones
“Today, as Mother Jones urged, ATU observes the American Workers Memorial Day and the Canadian National Day of Mourning, while fighting to make our workplaces the safe places they should be.
“The day takes on additional significance in the U.S. at a time when the Trump administration has resolved to rescind two regulations for every new rule created by the federal government. The president’s declaration includes no standards by which regulations will be evaluated, making it probable that critical health and safety standards will be trashed in order to increase corporate profits.
“Regulations often appear excessive or unnecessary until someone gets sick, is seriously injured, or dies at a workplace that ignores the rules. And the rules are important because, as AFL-CIO reports – 150 workers die each day from illnesses or injuries received on the job.
“This is obviously unacceptable. And, removing safety and health regulations will result in even more sickness, injury, and death on the job.
"Transit workers know this all too well. Our ATU brother, Jake Schwab, 568-Erie, PA, was tragically killed in a garage accident in 2014. And Irving "Jubal" Fraser, Local 1505-Winnipeg, MB, was stabbed to death by an angry rider in February.
"In response to Jake Schwab’s death, ATU is pushing for passage of the Jake Schwab Worker’s Safety Bill, which was introduced this week in the Pennsylvania state legislature with strong backing from labor and transit advocates. Meanwhile with attacks on transit workers increasing, ATU has renewed our call to improve protections and safety for bus drivers and transit workers across North America.
“Every worker should have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment. As Labor Songstress Anne Feeney sings in her Smithsonian Folkways recording: “We just come to work here – we don’t come to die.”
“ATU today renews the commitment it made to its members at its founding 125 years ago, that we will fight unceasingly for the health and safety of our members and of workers worldwide.”