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WHEREAS, according to the AFL-CIO, each year 6,000 people are killed at work, 50,000 die from occupational diseases and millions more are injured. Repetitive motion jobs injure and cripple more than 1.8 million workers annually; and
WHEREAS, according to a new report from the AFL-CIO, safety and health protection is stagnating for most workers and for some, it is actually declining; and
WHEREAS, Workers' Memorial Day is the day when trade unions and workplace health and safety advocates "mourn for the dead, but fight for the living", drawing attention to the plight of the thousands of workers who still die every year as a result of their work; and
WHEREAS, April 28 was chosen as the date for Workers Memorial Day because on this day in 1971 the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was enacted. This legislation has literally saved lives by creating a federal agency that mandates safe and hazard-free workplaces; and
WHEREAS, this Wednesday, April 28, 2004, the Allegheny County Labor Council, AFL-CIO and the Labor and Religion Coalition of Western PA are observing Workers Memorial Day in Market Square, where this year's theme is "Safe Jobs. Keep on fighting. Morn for the Dead. Fight for the living".
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the Allegheny County Labor Council, the AFL-CIO and the Labor and Religion Coalition of Western PA for their position on worker safety and for striving to prevent further deaths, injuries and diseases that fatally injure persons in the workplace here in the City of Pittsburgh.
BE IT FURTHER RESLVED, that April 28, 2004 be hereby declared as "Workers Memorial Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.