April 28, 2022- A memorial service in observance of AFL-CIO Workers Memorial Day was held at the Worker Memorial monument, which is located on the northwest corner of the Macon County Courthouse lawn.
April 28 marks the national holiday for recognizing individuals who lost their lives while working on the job.
Speakers included Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly executive board members Lloyd Holman & Jim Taylor, and president, Lamarcus Williams.
“Here, recently, here in Springfield, central IL we lost a lady that died on the job working for DCSF(Illinois Department of Children and Family Services),” Williams said. “I know that our state senator, Doris Turner introduced legislation that is soon to be passed to ensure that her descendants will receive healthcare and things of that nature for individuals who passed away on the job.”
Nikki Budzinski, congressional candidate for Illinois’ 13th district, spoke as well.
“My campaign for congress is about working people,” Budzinski said. “It’s about fighting for safe working conditions. It’s about good paying jobs. It’s about supporting the Labor Union which has been fighting for working people to make sure they had safe working conditions before we had OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)”
Over 100 names of workers who were killed while working, were read. Politicians such as Representative Sue Scherer and Senator Doris Turner, community members, and members of the Decatur Trades & Unions, were in attendance.
