FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 28, 2025
Contact: Leah Leszczynski, lleszczynski@miaflcio.org, 989.316.6044
Continues the Fight for Worker Safety on Workers’ Memorial Day
LANSING, Mich. – Today, on Workers Memorial Day, the Michigan AFL-CIO honors workers who have been killed, disabled, sickened, or injured on the job, and renews calls for action to keep workers safe amid unprecedented attacks on workers’ rights and safety.
The National AFL-CIO’s 2025 Death on the Job report cites the loss of 5,283 workers to traumatic injuries, and the loss of an estimated 135,000 workers from occupational diseases in 2023 — that is 385 workers dying each day. Michigan lost 166 workers in 2023, with a rate per 100,000 workers of 3.6, which ranks as 21st in the nation. There are 67 workplace safety and health inspectors in the state of Michigan, but it would take 85 years to inspect every workplace once.
“Every preventable workplace death is a tragedy and a solemn reminder that our work isn’t done,” said Ron BIEBER, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “Thanks to unions, there has been a lot of progress in the name of OSHA, regulations, and contract protections. There is so much more to be done, but America is being taken backwards by Trump’s unprecedented assault on workers. Regulations and protections are getting rolled back, and the enforcement of labor law is on DOGE’s chopping block. This and every Workers Memorial Day, we call on our elected leaders to put the workers they swore to serve first, not last.”
“Trump has proven which side he’s on in his first 98 days — and it is not on the side of working people,” said Jamie Brown, RN, president of the Michigan Nurses Association. “He has already gutted the National Labor Relations Board, signed executive orders rolling back regulations that protect workers, and basically eliminated the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. His actions give favor to the billionaire class and their corporations at the cost of workers.”
The state of Michigan recognizes April 28th as Workers Memorial Day, and more than 40 Michigan counties and municipalities have passed resolutions recognizing Workers Memorial Day — but there is much more to be done.
“The best way to honor fallen workers is to fight like hell for the living. Michigan’s working class knows this — that is why workers from across the state gathered to mourn the fallen and fight for the living,” said BIEBER.
Likewise, Michigan House Democrats introduced pro-worker legislation that would protect workers from retaliation over raising safety-related complaints and includes several measures to combat the spread of disease in the workplace. Critically, the package also contains accountability measures such as aligning MIOSHA penalties with federal penalties in accordance with federal law. These bills, if passed, would make workplaces safer, thereby saving the lives of Michigan workers.
“Michigan’s labor movement applauds the Michigan House Democrats’ legislative package that was announced today, which aims to improve worker safety and security,” said Ryan Sebolt, Director of Government Affairs for the Michigan AFL-CIO.
The Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan’s largest labor organization, is a federation representing forty different labor organizations, eighteen different central labor councils, and eight constituency groups representing over 1 million union members and their families.
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