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Press releases for the events
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Workers are Remembered On Thursday, April 30, 2009, the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body, AFL-CIO held an afternoon vigil to honor workers who lost their lives at work in the past year. The event was held at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla where the Central Labor Body hopes to build a monument in memory of those who have died at their workplace. In his speech Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano spoke about how apropos placing a memorial for workers at Kensico Dam would be. He explained that numerous workers had died as they built the dam before safety precautions were in place. The vigil was part of National Workers Memorial Day which is held annually on April 28th to remember those that have died and to fight for the health and safety of the living. WPCLB president, Paul Ryan, pointed out, “Death at the workplace is not exclusive to those who belong to a union and in fact we see year after year more and more of our non-union brothers losing their lives needlessly due to lack of safety precautions at their worksite. That’s one of the reasons we fight all the time for improved safety standards, training, and enforcement of existing OSHA laws. Fortunately, through Union contracts, our members work on safer jobs, but we have an obligation to make sure all workers are protected through safety and health rules, because there’s no way you can replace s son to his mother, there is no financial settlement that bring a father or mother back to their family and there‘s no way to justify the savings cost of lower safety standards when a human life is involved. We must continue to fight for not only Good Jobs, but Safe Jobs and to give workers a voice for a change.” The names of those who had died on the job in the past year from Westchester and Putnam County were read aloud by Kevin Broderick of IBEW # 3 while Louis Bousche of Yonkers Firefighters, IAFF Local # 628, rang a fire bell after each name. The bell was wrung this year for: Wayne Bleidner, Luis De Oliviera, Kenneth McGrath, Bruce Plunkett, and David Vasquez. The bell was then rung three times remembering those who had died in current military service. The Sword of Light Bagpipe Band of IBEW # 3 played a tribute to the deceased workers on the bagpipes. Karen Magee, Secretary/Treasurer of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body and Chairman of the event, spoke about some of the horrible accidents that have happened in the past few years that could have been prevented. Here in the United States, 5,600 workers lost their lives on the job in 2007 and another 50,000 died from occupational diseases. Each and every day 15 women and men who go to work are killed by job related injuries and never come home. She called upon legislators and the public to demand laws be passed and enforced that would protect workers and stop these senseless deaths. Karen also thanked all the union members who on April 28th, the National Workers Memorial Day, had cared enough about worker safety to go to train stations and grocery stores to pass out more than 16,000 pieces of literature informing the public about the importance of worker training and enforcing worker safety laws. Besides fellow union members and the family of a deceased worker, the following local legislators attended the vigil: State Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Suzi Oppenheimer; Assemblypersons George Latimer Michael Spano, Adam Bradley and Sandra Galef; County Legislators Thomas Abinanti, Jose Alvarado, Lois Bronz, William Burton, Kenneth Jenkins, Michael Kaplowitz, Judy Myers, John Nonna, Vito Pinto, Martin Rogowsky, William Ryan, and Lyndon Williams; Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore; Tuckahoe Trustee Clare Gorman; Ossining Mayor William Hanauer; White Plains Common Councilmen Glenn Hockley; and Patricia Keegan representing Congresswoman Nita Lowey. |
April 30th, 2009 Stewart-Cousins and Trinchi Honored Westchester/Putnam - Central Labor Body, AFL-CIO and their friends in the community honored State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her outstanding public service and Michael Trinchi for his labor service at their recent Workers’ Memorial Monument Fundraising Event. At the event, Congressman John Hall, last year’s winner of the Central Labor Body’s “Outstanding Public Service Award” presented the Westchester/Putnam - Central Labor Body, AFL-CIO’s 2009 award to State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Andrea was chosen for this award because she has never been afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even when it is not easy to do. She has always fought for workers and their families and has even opposed the political leadership if she believes what they are supporting is wrong. Because she believes it is necessary to bring people together to resolve issues and get things done for workers and the community in general, she has always been willing to meet and work with people on the issues. She was a leader in getting the living wage passed in the county, saving the Dobbs Ferry Hospital, developing the Human Rights Commission and this year getting record school aid for Yonkers. She can always be counted on to fight for human rights, quality education, accessible and affordable health care, youth development and making the government more accessible for the people. Michael (Trinchi) Trinchitella, former Labor Liaison to the United Way, was presented the “2009 Labor Service Award” by last year’s recipient Karen Magee. In March 1990, Mike who was a former business agent of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union became the Director of Community Services serving both the WPCLB and the United Way. In this capacity Mike encouraged the United Way Board of Directors to establish an emergency fund for workers during periods of high unemployment, etc. He trained union workers to identify fellow workers in need of help and trained them to assist them in dealing with personal issues. He was also instrumental in the creation of a local chapter of the Mount Sinai Occupational Health and Safety Clinic which services workers that are suffering from job related health issues. At the same time, he encouraged unions to participate in the United Way Fundraising Drives, to volunteer in agencies that needed help, to hold blood drives, to collect food for food pantries, to participate in charity walks, and to help not for profit agencies by doing painting, electrical work, plumbing, packing groceries, building playgrounds, manning Salvation Army kettles, etc. Recently the painters even did work on the United Way Building. Many community leaders and social agencies joined the Central Labor Body in honoring these two community advocates. Congresswoman Nita Lowey came and spoke about both honorees and about the new leadership in Washington which would make the job of protecting workers easier. New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes brought congratulations from the union movement. Among those presenting the honorees with proclamations were: State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer; Assemblymen George Latimer and Michael Spano; County Legislator Lois Bronz and a contingent from the Westchester County Legislature, John Gentile of CWA # 1103 representing the Mt. Sinai Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Naomi Adler of the United Way. The fundraiser was held to raise money to erect a Workers’ Memorial Monument to honor all workers who have died on the job. Westchester County has agreed to donate the property for the monument which will serve as a constant reminder that we need to maintain and increase safety protections at the workplace but the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body must raise the money for its construction and maintenance. The monument will allow the WPCLB tp permanently hpnpr those who paid the ultimate sacrifice –their lives- to support their families.
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WESTCHESTER/ PUTNAM CENTRAL LABOR BODY AFL- CIO OFFICE TELEPHONE: (914) 698-7988 FAX: (914) 698-7993 |