Workers Memorial Day Statement by New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento

Albany, NY - Workers Memorial Day, observed annually on April 28, serves as a vital reminder of the sacrifices made by workers and underscores our ongoing commitment to workplace safety. We honor those who have lost their lives and renew our dedication to preventing future tragedies.

Workers have a fundamental right to a safe job as promised 55 years ago, with the founding of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The Trump administration's rapid rollbacks and repeals of workplace safety protections threaten that fundamental right. The union movement is united in our fight to restore these reckless cutbacks and to ask states to fill the gap.

Once again, some in Washington are targeting the Scaffold Safety Law, which is unique to New York. This law ensures that construction workers, who perform one of the most dangerous jobs in America, remain safe by requiring contractors and project owners to provide and use necessary safety equipment. This law must remain in place. Lives depend on it.

Yet another way to improve worker safety is a proposal we support to enhance the safety of workers who maintain our state's infrastructure. These include measures to make the work zone camera program permanent and to increase criminal penalties for assaulting transportation workers.

In addition, we are urging lawmakers to pass the Temperature Extreme Mitigation Program (TEMP) Act, which would reduce the risk of injury or illness from extreme heat and cold. It would require common-sense steps by employers, including access to personal protective equipment, hydration and shade, adequate rest periods, health monitoring, and other appropriate steps for unique worksite circumstances.

No worker should lose their life while performing their job, and no family should have to grieve the loss of a loved one due to preventable and avoidable hazardous working conditions. We can, and we must do better.