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On April 28^th, join us to honor the workers who have been killed or injured on the job and to fight until the promise of safe jobs is a reality.

What You Can Do on Workers’ Memorial Day:

Teamster members across the country can conduct various activities to honor and remember those who have lost their lives in the workplace.  Teamsters are encouraged to participate in events that may be held by labor councils in each state.  You can also coordinate activities with the Committees on Occupational Safety and Health (COSH groups), a network of non-profit organizations around the United States that advocate for worker safety and health.  (http://www.coshnetwork.org/) 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, large-scale public events may have to be postponed or hosted in nontraditional ways over digital media platforms or in smaller gatherings. Please consider these CDC guidelines before planning a large public event: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events Ready for COVID-19 (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/massgatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html)

Please report any activities you participate in and send along with any pictures (preferably digital) to the Teamsters Safety and Health Department so that we may publicize the event in Division newsletters and by other means.  Ways to participate during the COVID-19 pandemic include:

• Coordinating a moment of silence to remember those who have died on the job and to highlight job safety problems in your community and at your workplace;
• Recording a video to highlight the job safety and health problems in your community or at your workplace and how the union is fighting to improve protections;
• Laying a wreath at memorials and at workplaces in communities where workers have been killed on the job.  “A Collection of Workers’ Memorials” is a document on the Teamsters website where you can find a memorial close to you.
• Planting a tree (with a dedication plaque) in remembrance of members who died in the workplace;
• Flying flags at half-mast at your workplace and union hall;
• Wearing black ribbons or armbands at your workplace;
• Creating and publishing digital fliers on social media and organizing a call-in to congressional representatives during lunchtimes or break times.  Tell your members of Congress to support stronger safety and health regulations and worker safety and health protections.
• Creating a photographic book or other mixed media artwork highlighting images of injured workers discussing first hand the need for strong safety and health precautions.  Send this digital media work to members of Congress, local and state politicians, local religious leaders, and other allies to participate in the call to action; and
• Writing a letter to the editor of your local paper.  Talk to print and TV reporters you know and encourage them to write a story about dangerous work conditions and inadequate job safety protections.

For additional assistance, contact the Teamsters Safety and Health Department, 
25 Louisiana Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; 
Phone: 202-624-6960; Fax: 202-624-8740, ibtsafety@teamster.org.