Green Labor Journal - Working for a Substainable Future

National Labor College to Dedicate Workers Memorial on April 28th

The National Labor College will observe Workers' Memorial Day on April 28 by honoring the vicitims of the mining tragedy in Montcoal, West Viriginia, and the Tesaro Refinery explosion in Washington State, along with hundreds of other workers who have lost their lives on the jobs.

Print this article

The National Labor College will observe Workers' Memorial Day on April 28th by honoring victims of the mining tragedy in Montcoal, West Virginia and the Tesaro Refinery explosion in Washington State, along with hundreds of other workers who have lost their lives on the job. The ceremony will take place at 2:00 PM.

The April 28th ceremony will dedicate the recently completed National Workers Memorial, a new monument to fallen workers.  The Memorial features granite benches and bricks placed by family members and union brothers and sisters in honor of those who lost their lives on the job. Speakers will include David Michaels, Assistant Secretary for Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Liz Shuler, Secretary Treasurer, AFL-CIO, and Cecil Roberts Jr., President, United Mine Workers of America.

The NLC will hold a symposium on workplace safety (12:30 PM - 2:00 PM) immediately preceding the dedication of the National Workers Memorial.  The symposium is entitled "The Protecting America's Workers Act, Now Pending in Congress" and will be held in the Lane Kirkland Center.

The following individuals will participate in the symposium:
 
Moderator:  Dr. Thomas Kriger, Provost, National Labor College
       
Presenter:  Rich Fairfax, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
       
Presenter:  Darryl Alexander, Director, Occupational Safety and Health, American Federation of Teachers
       
Presenter:  Scott Schneider, Director of Occupational Safety and Health for the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America
       
Presenter:  Vicki Bor, Attorney, Sherman, Dunn
       
Commentary:  Yvonne Hayes, United Transportation Union, NLC Alumna  

 
The National Workers Memorial dedication ceremony and symposium are open to the public.

See "Obama Eulogizes Victims of Mine Accident," The New York Times, April 25, 2010.