J 846: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 28, 2025, as Workers' Memorial Day in the State of New York

 Senate Resolution No. 846 BY: Senator RAMOS MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 28, 2025, as Workers' Memorial Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, Each year across the Nation, the Labor Movement observes Workers' Memorial Day to remember workers killed, injured, or made ill on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections; and WHEREAS, For decades workers have struggled for improved working conditions, dignity, and respect on the job; and WHEREAS, New York, the Empire State, has been built and made great through the hard work and effort of working people; and WHEREAS, Many men and women work each day in dangerous environments, at times under arduous and perilous conditions; and WHEREAS, The Labor Movement organized for safer working conditions and demanded action from the government to protect working people; and WHEREAS, More than 50 years ago on April 28th, as a result of the tireless efforts of the Labor Movement, the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect, granting all citizens the fundamental right to a safe job and creating the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and WHEREAS, Since that impactful day, unions and allies of the Labor Movement have won several protections for workers to make jobs less dangerous and to save lives; however, thousands of workers are still killed each year and millions more suffer from injury and illness due to unsafe working conditions; and WHEREAS, There was a two percent increase in work-related injuries in 2018, and in 2007, approximately 53,445 workers died of work-related illnesses; and WHEREAS, Aside from the unfathomable grief caused by the death of a person, there are long-term social and economic impacts on the workers' families and the society at large; and WHEREAS, The members of this Legislative Body are determined to ensure that a safe workplace be the norm for all working men and women and pause in remembrance of those who have imperiled their health and safety or sacrificed their lives in the performance of their work; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 28, 2025, as Workers' Memorial Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.