Every year, American workers die on the job. The latest overall fi gures for 2006 show the offi cial death toll of on-the job fatalities stood at 5,703. Unfortunately, in 2007, one GMP member was included on the next year’s list. Our fellow member was more than a statistic. He was a trade unionist mourned by his friends and family.

We can best remember him and the thousands like him by renewing our efforts to create safer workplaces.

The Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) has numerous materials on this vital concern. I urge every GMP Local Union to acquire this information and make it available to our membership.

Naturally, a safe workplace is a corporate responsibility. A safe workplace, because it directly impacts our lives, cannot be left entirely to others.

We as workers should be alert to danger, to improper procedures and dangerous conditions. Anyone noting these and like situations should advise management and their local union offi cers.

As we mark Workers Memorial Day, we should dedicate ourselves to reducing the horrifi c costs of earning a living. No one should pay with his or her life for going to work.

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