April 28 is Workers Memorial Day

(This article first appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)

Every year on April 28, workers and their organizations come together to remember those who have died, been injured, or contracted an occupational disease at work. Each year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most do not die of mystery ailments, or in tragic “accidents” – they die because an employer decided their safety was not a priority.

Workers Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates those workers. It is a day that we must remember the words attributed to the great Mother Jones: “Remember the dead; fight like hell for the living.”

Every 7 seconds, a worker is injured on the job. That is over 85,000 a day and nearly 4 million per year. In 2018, about 4,800 workers were killed on the job. Our jobs with the USPS are some of the most dangerous jobs in government service. In fiscal year 2019, a total of 36,634 postal workers had their injury claims accepted by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). This does not count the injury claims denied or never reported. Fifteen of our postal sisters and brothers died on the job, only five less than the rest of all U.S. government work combined.

April 28, we ask you to take a moment and remember those who have been afflicted by a workplace injury, illness, or death. You too can Stand Up for Safe Jobs and insist management provide you a safe and healthy work environment, so you can return home to your family every day uninjured. We encourage you to wear a sticker or wrist band that commemorates the day. Contact your local representatives to know what other actions may be planned.