April 28^th marked the 20^th Annual Workers’ Memorial Day, when workers around our Commonwealth and country pause to remember and pay tribute to those killed or injured on the job. This past weekend in Kentucky three of our AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils, Owensboro CLC, Tri-County CLC and the Western Kentucky CLC, held Workers’ Memorial Day commemorations.

The Owensboro CLC Memorial was held on Friday evening at the site of the Workers’ Memorial monument on the grounds of the Daviess County Courthouse. Owensboro CLC President Donna Haynes presided over the ceremonies as a variety of elected officials, both local and statewide, spoke in support of safe jobs for all. Sister Haynes read a list of those killed on the job in Kentucky during the previous year while Brother Scott Belcher tolled the bell. Labor Commissioner J.R. Gray addressed the crowd and pledged the support of the Labor Department to work for safer jobs and stricter enforcement of health and safety laws in Kentucky’s workplaces.

On Saturday morning the Tri-County CLC held it’s Workers’ Memorial Day at Central Park on the grounds of the Henderson City Hall where a striking portrayal of a worker carrying the lifeless body of a fellow worker stands in tribute to those killed on the job. Tri-County CLC President Kenny Davis presided over the event which was attended by local union members, family members, local elected officials and Brother Rob Minnich, Assistant Secretary of the IAMAW.