The 31st annual Workers’ Memorial Day was April 28, 2019. On Friday, Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano attended PhilaPOSH’s ceremonies at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 Hall.
Speakers, including Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, talked about the nationwide opioid addiction crisis that is hitting workers and labor union members particularly hard. There are more than 130 opioid-related deaths each day, making drug overdose the leading cause of injury death in the U.S.
The event concluded with the reading of the names of 115 workers from the tri-state area who lost their lives to job-related injuries and illness in the past year. Flowers were cast into the Delaware River to symbolize the continuing flow of life and the struggle to prevent work-related injuries, diseases and deaths.
