NLC’s National Workers Memorial Drive Seeks Funds

On Workers Memorial Day this year, ground was broken at the National Labor College (NLC) for a National Workers Memorial to honor working men and women men killed on the job.

At the ceremony, Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts said:

This will be the only place in America where workers from all industries, all crafts, all walks of life who are killed on the job are memorialized. We build this memorial to honor and remember them and to remind us of the work that still remains to be done to make America’s workplaces as safe and healthy as possible.

Here’s the latest update from the NLC:

The National Workers Memorial arose from the hearts and minds of National Labor College students who wanted a place to remember their fallen brothers and sisters. They agreed it was important that such a place be built on the campus where union members from across the labor movement come to learn and strengthen the future of our movement. To begin construction, our goal is to raise $500,000.

In response to a mailing to all national/international unions, 12 unions have generously contributed and five more have indicated their intention to do so by purchasing $10,000 granite benches to honor their fallen ones. With other contributions, this means that we have either the contributions or the commitment for $175,000 so far.

To fund the construction of the memorial, we are calling upon national and international unions, state federations, central labor councils, state and regional union bodies, other like-minded organizations and donors to sponsor an engraved granite bench.

Help us spread the word about this opportunity and encourage any union body in which you participate to support this important project. We need just 34 more sponsors.

Once sufficient funds are in place to begin construction, we will also encourage groups to sponsor the slate pavers that border the memorial with a contribution of $2,000 to commemorate significant events, or notorious workplaces—like the Triangle Fire or the Sago Mine disaster. We believe that local unions or many locals involved in a single disaster may wish to support the memorial in this way.

There also will be opportunities to purchase bricks at $125 to honor a fallen brother or sister. America’s workers may be memorialized if they died on the job or from work-related dangers. Those who died in the struggle to build their union, or those like Mother Jones who made important contributions (large or small) to the labor movement, also can be remembered on a specially prepared adjacent spot. Each brick will bear the name of the deceased, the date of death and the name of their union or occupation. The college will keep track of the location of a given brick and publish a directory of the names.

Contributions will support the cost of erecting, maintaining and administering the memorial. A portion of these funds also will support the annual Workers Memorial Day activities held in April at the National Labor College. Remaining funds will provide general support to the college’s work, including important health and safety programs.

Find out more about the National Workers Memorial at the NLC by clicking here.

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