Skip to main content
Image
Charlotte NC

Rep. Adams Statement on Workers' Memorial Day

April 28, 2020

Day takes on extra meaning during COVID-19

WASHINGTON – Today, Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12), released a statement on Workers' Memorial Day.

The statement is available on YouTube and on Facebook.

"Just last week, I introduced the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act – which will require OSHA to issue a new safety standard to protect all employees from the worst impacts of COVID-19 in the workplace," said Congresswoman Adams."COVID-19 has unleashed a new set of health and safety challenges for our workers, and has rightfully captured Congress's attention. A year from today, we should not have to add thousands of workers to our memorial observance because they never had the appropriate workplace protections from the coronavirus. However, once this pandemic is over, our fight for worker safety and employer accountability won't end."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 16,000 U.S. health care workers have been infected with COVID-19. Outbreaks have been reported at a wide range of workplaces across the country, including one meat processing plant where more than 500 workers were infected with the virus.

Her full remarks are below:

Hello, I am Congressman Alma Adams, Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Today, we observe Workers Memorial Day; a day dedicated to remembering our workers who were killed or injured on the job.

As we honor these public servants, we also use this time to renew our commitment to fight for strong health and safety protections for all our workers. From our letter carriers to our machinists; our healthcare professionals to educators; our food industry professionals to sanitation workers; every industry is impacted by the lack of strong workforce protections.

This year's Workers Memorial Day comes at a time when many workers in our country are forced to deal with unimaginable, but preventable, health and safety risks. As we move forward together, may we honor the lives and sacrifices of the workers whose lives were lost on the job, by recommitting our efforts to preventing such tragedies from ever occurring again.

I will continue to be a champion for American workers because your Congress has a critical responsibility to stand up for workers and their families.

Just last week, I introduced the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act – which will require OSHA to issue a new safety standard to protect all employees from the worst impacts of COVID-19 in the workplace. COVID-19 has unleashed a new set of health and safety challenges for our workers, and has rightfully captured Congress's attention. A year from today, we should not have to add thousands of workers to our memorial observance because they never had the appropriate workplace protections from the coronavirus. However, once this pandemic is over, our fight for worker safety and employer accountability won't end.

We need to ensure our health care and social service workers are protected from workplace violence by passing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.

As our climate continues to change, we must protect our workers in hot conditions by passing the Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act.

We need to pass the Protecting America's Workers Act and safeguard employees who act as whistle-blowers, calling out the worst employers who fail to keep their workplaces safe.

These bills are just part of the efforts currently underway to ensure our workers come home at the end of their shift.

So, as we continue this fight, I leave you with this: The time is always right to protect the rights of workers and to speak up for safe jobs!

Thank you and God Bless!

###