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| A rose sits on a newly laid brick in honor of fallen TCU-IAM Local 5092 member Peter Adamovich, a 34-year Amtrak employee who was killed on the job while trying to save a colleague. |
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| IAM International President Bob Martinez speaks offers condolences and a promise to continue to fight for safer workplaces at the IAM Workers’ Memorial Day Observance held at the William W. Winpisinger Center in Hollywood, MD. |
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| Teresa Console places a rose on the brick commemorating her mother, Susan Console, an IAM Local I460 member and Recording Secretary who passed away in February 2016. |
The labor movement recognizes April 28 as Workers’ Memorial Day to honor the thousands of workers killed, injured or sickened on the job each year. It’s a day to mourn deeply personal loses, and also a day to strengthen our resolve to ensure workers everywhere are given the safest workplace possible.
The IAM observed Workers’ Memorial Day at its Workers’ Memorial on the grounds of the Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Southern Maryland. IAM Safety and Health Director Jim Reid presided over the ceremony.
International President Bob Martinez spoke about the importance of honoring the fallen and fighting to protect the living.
“Today we come together as a family, to draw strength from each other,” said Martinez. “And while we are here to remember the lives of these good men and women, we are also here to recommit to our obligation to create safer workplaces.”
Friends, family and fellow brothers and sisters gathered to honor the nine men and women who died this past year, including: Dianna Blevins, NFFE-IAM Local 178; David Budzinski, NFFE-IAM Local 178; Brian Hallman, TCU-IAM Local 6633; Peter Adamovich, TCU-IAM Local 5092; Ronald Osborne, Jr., TCU-IAM Local 6731; Susan Console, IAM Local I460; Michael Owens, IAM Local 2135; Eric McClellan, IAM Local 10; and Ian Henrey, IAM Local 2323.
Each member’s name was read aloud and inscribed on bricks surrounding the Workers’ Memorial Lighthouse.
Also given special remembrances were retired Southern Territory Administrative Assistant Leslie “Les” Schroder, Bill Winpisinger, Jr., Richard “Dick” Presser, James Ingram, Joe Minardi and Ernest Yazhe, an IAM lifetime member and Navaho Code Taker who served in the U.S. Marines during World War II.
General Vice President Diane Babineaux gave the closing comments and the invocation and closing prayer was delivered by Father Eamon Dignan of St. John’s Parish in Hollywood, MD.
The first Workers’ Memorial Day was observed in 1989. April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the day of a similar remembrance in Canada. The IAM’s Worker Memorial was dedicated in 2001.