Wichita Observes Workers Memorial Day

On April 24th, union members and community members fromWichita and south central Kansas turned out in force to celebrate the 20th annual Workers Memorial Day. On Workers Memorial Day, we join our brothers and sisters around the world to remember our fellow unionists who have lost their lives and been injured on the job. The event in Wichita was one of hundreds across the country and around the world

In Wichita, we held a dinner to recognize the 46,800 Kansans injured and 85 killed due to job hazards and many others died d

Pat Lehman with award  More pictures

ue to occupational diseases

The Mother Jones Award was given to Pat Lehman, long-time leader in the IAM. Senator Donald Betts gave the keynote address. Labor Federation political director put the issue of workplace safety in context.

The annual AFL-CIO Death on the Job report released this week shows just how far we have to go for safer workplaces. On an average day, 16 workers lose their lives as a result of workplace injuries and disease, and another 11,200 are injured. In Kansas, there are only 15 safety inspectors. It would take 99 years for OSHA inspectors to inspect each workplace once!  [Skip to rest of text}

Pet Lehman Accepts Mother Jones Award

Pat introduces Donald Betts

Donald Betts speech, Part One

Donald Betts speech, Part Two

Jake Lowen

In 2006, more than 4.1 million workers were injured and 5,840 workers were killed due to job hazards. Another 50,000 – 60,000 died due to occupational diseases. Since 1992, the number of fatalities among Hispanic workers has increased by 86 percent, from 533 fatalities in 1992 to 990 fatalities in 2006. Penalties for unsafe workplaces are embarrassingly low. In Kansas, the average fine for a serious safety violation that can cause
i

Judy Pierce President Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation

njury or death is $537!

“Cuts and rollbacks under the Bush Administration have made our fight for safe jobs harder,” said Judy Pierce, President of the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation. “It’s time for congress and the next president to ensure our nations’ health and safety laws measure up to the promise of good jobs, safe jobs, for all.”

While we don’t know yet who the next president will be, we do know that the candidates’ voting records on safety and health protections are in stark contrast. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are strong supporters of workers, unions and strong workplace safety and health protections. Both have committed to strong OSHA enforcement and restoring ergonomic protections.

 John McCain, on the other hand, has voted against virtually every worker safety measure that’s come up during his 26 years in Congress. He opposed a field sanitation standard to provide farm workers drinking water and toilets in the fields. He opposed strengthening criminal penalties for willful OSHA violations when workers are killed or seriously injured. He opposed notifying workers at high risk of occupational disease because of workplace exposures. And in 2001 he joined President Bush and other Republicans to kill the OSHA ergonomics standard. We have called on Senator McCain to leave those policies behind.

This year’s event was part of an annual Workers Memorial Day celebration. As part of the event, the AFL -CIO releases its annual Death on the Job report. A full copy of the report, which has in-depth analysis of state data, is available on the AFL-CIO website or from the AFL-CIO Safety and Health Office at 202-637-5366.

Channel 12 Reports on Workplace Safety

KWCH-TV, Channel 12, did a feature story on Workers Memorial Day, interviewing Wichita Labor Federation Political Director Jake Lowen.

A massive explosion rips apart a grain elevator and leaves seven Kansans dead, including Lanny Owen's dad.

"My grandmother called me and said my grandpa was on his way to pick me up," says Owen. "I asked why and she said that your dad's work blew up."

He was fatherless at 16. The workers killed in the 1998 DeBruce grain elevator disaster are still memorialized at the plant entrance with crosses, flowers and wreaths. Lanson Owen Sr.'s sister says workplace safety is something people take for granted until tragedy strikes.

"Just the lives it changes is the biggest thing," says Altina Piasecki. "You don't want to see anybody get hurt on the job."

That explosion in Haysville ten years ago is a dramatic example of what labor groups say is a growing problem in Kansas.

"If you go back and read the OSHA report on that incident, it very clearly says that the DeBruce Corporation was aware of the conditions that led to that ignition, yet they did nothing to stop it," says Jake Lowen of the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation. MORE

The right of America’s workers to form unions and bargain is under constant attack.

Help preserve these embattled rights this International Human Rights Day by signing our petition to protect the freedom to form unions.

June 5
5:30

COPE/Labor 2008 Meeting
IAM 3830 S. Meridian

June 14

Heartwalk
Cessna Stadium

June 14-15

Democracy for America
Grass Roots Training
Kansas City

June 17
6:30

Raise the Wage Wihicta!
Labor Center
3219 W. Central

June 24

SPEEA Recertification Vote

June 26

Labor Fed Meeting
5:30 E-board
6:30 Delegates
3219 W. Central
 

June 28
1:00 PM

LCLAA
Copnnie’s Mexico Cafe

August 30

Wichita Labor Day Celebration

COMPLETE CALENDAR

Check availability of meeting room at the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation.