CONTACT: Senator Larson                                                                                 608.266.7505   

MADISON – Senator Chris Larson issued the following statement regarding today’s recognition of Workers’ Memorial Day. Workers’ Memorial Day is a day to remember workers who have been killed by incidents or illnesses caused by their work and is also the day the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established in 1971. This day also serves as a reminder that there is much more to be done to ensure everyone has a safe work environment.

“Across the state and nation, services were held to honor workers who lost their lives or were seriously injured due to a workplace incident and to stand in solidarity with Wisconsin workers.

“Wisconsin’s tradition of fighting for fair treatment and safe working conditions run deep in our history. From our factory workers, nurses, and firefighters to construction workers and teachers, these are the everyday heroes who help shape our future, keep us safe, and drive our economy.

“All of our neighbors deserve to go to work each day knowing they have security and protection from preventable tragedies. Unfortunately, the GOP has continually betrayed these values. For instance, despite the facts from other states that show repealing prevailing wage protections drives down wages, promotes the outsourcing of workers, lowers productivity levels, decreases workplace safety, and limits access to health care, Republican still chose to gut this worker protection in the last state budget. Now, they have gone so far as to introduce a bill to complete their repeal of prevailing wage laws, further harming Wisconsin workers.

“The right to organize, receive fair treatment, and work in safe conditions are fundamental values that we, as Americans, hold. We must recommit to these core principles if we want America to be a place of opportunity, fairness, and freedom. We must keep working together to improve and enforce workplace safety standards in order to ensure safe and secure communities. I hope my Republican colleagues take this Workers’ Memorial Day as an opportunity to stand with Democrats in supporting hardworking Wisconsinites from every corner of the state.”

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