Workplace safety is major issue

To the editor:A new report titled "Death on the Job" shows that 185 people lost their lives on the job in Missouri in 2005 and another 102,600 were injured.

Nationally, 5,734 workers died on the job and 4.2 million were injured. For Latino and immigrant workers, the news is even worse. In 2005, the fatal injury rate for all workers was 4:100,000 workers, as compared to a rate of 4.9 for Latino workers. Since 1992, the number of fatalities among immigrant workers has increased by 63 percent, from 635 fatalities in 1992 to 1,035 fatalities in 2005.

Workers Memorial Day, April 28, honors those workers and recognizes that our nation's safety laws must be stronger and better enforced.

We hear the Bush administration claim it's doing enough for safety on the job. We know otherwise. In the past six years, the administration has killed workplace ergonomic protections, shut down new workplace safety and health rules and favored voluntary safety programs over safety enforcement. We're holding the Bush administration accountable for safer workplaces for all workers.

Join us in calling on our elected leaders to fight for good, safe jobs. It's time.

MARK BAKER, President, Central Trades and Labor Council of Cape Girardeau