UPDATE: Monday, April 28, 2008

With song, prayer and testimony, workers killed while on the job this past year were remembered at NYSUT headquarters in Latham during the annual Workers Memorial Day observance. The somber event drew a strong showing of unionists, activists and politicians.

NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer Lee Cutler noted the "solemn day" provided the union an opportunity to repeat its call to federal and state lawmakers to make worker health and safety a priority. "It is incumbent upon organized labor to fight like hell for the living," Cutler said.

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Among those memorialized at the ceremony was Lance Gregson - the 44-year-old husband of NYSUT and Schroon Lake Teachers Association member Anne Gregson - who died from injuries suffered in a 30-foot fall from scaffolding while working as a stone mason.

In a moment that brought a hush over the assembled crowd, state Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith scrapped her prepared remarks and, with raw emotion, told of how a mine collapse in the western Pennsylvania town where she grew up claimed the lives of 100 workers. As she fought back tears, Smith said some of those killed were the fathers of children she played with, recalling how one family lost six sons in the accident. The horrifying incident, she said, inspired her to dedicate her life to improving working conditions for laborers.

MEDIA RELEASE

NYSUT hosts 'Workers Memorial Day' Monday, April 28

Labor's position: 'Mourn for the dead, fight like hell for the living'

ALBANY, April 25, 2008  - Representatives from every part of the state labor movement will join together Monday to honor workers killed on the job the past year and to rededicate themselves to the fight for safer workplaces and a stronger voice on the job for all workers.

The ceremony - beginning at noon at the NYSUT headquarters in Latham - will feature speakers including NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi, State Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith, Bob Mantello from the Bricklayers and Allied Craft workers union and Joe Fox from the Capital District Area Labor Federation. Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and area Assemblyman Bob Reilly are also expected to attend.

"Every worker has the right to work without fear of injury or risk of disease," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "This memorial reminds us all of the importance of labor's health and safety efforts."

The program will include a solemn reading of the seven area workers killed in industrial accidents the past year. None had union representation.

The memorial event is sponsored by NYSUT, the Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition, the Capital District Area Labor Federation, the Public Employees Federation, the Organization of Environmental Health Clinics and the NYSUT Multi-Cultural Committee.

NYSUT represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.

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