Print This Page: Workers Memorial Day Ceremony Highlights Women’s Impact on Safety and Health

The ceremony commemorated the 100th anniversary of The Pittsburgh Survey, (1907-1908), the pioneering work of Crystal Eastman and others which investigated and reported the horrendous labor and living conditions of Pittsburgh’s working class.

Keynote speaker Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, said during his address, “Unfortunately 100 years later in 2007, workers still face many obstacles to achieving a safe workplace. The Bush administration, acting on behalf of corporate interests has moved to roll back and weaken existing worker protections.

It has the worst record on safety rules in OSHA’s entire history, issuing no new significant rules during its first term.”

During the ceremony in the bandstand in Market Square, the Allegheny County Labor Council (ACLC) Bell was struck 60 times commemorate those who died in the workplace over the past year. This included workers in Western Pennsylvania and Steelworkers from across the United States.

Rosemary Trump, President of the Pennsylvania Labor History Society, spoke of the revolutionary work done by Crystal Eastman.

Eastman, founder of the Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom and co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union, came to Pittsburgh 100 years ago in 1907 and began an investigation of the labor conditions. Her report, Work Accidents and the Law, cataloged 526 workplace deaths that occurred in one year in Allegheny County and highlighted the inadequacy of worker protection and compensation.

This report was one of a six volume series that is known collectively as The Pittsburgh Survey, which examined life and labor in America’s fifth largest city, then home to a massive exploited immigrant labor force. The progressive reforms this series called for were hindered by the oppressive power of Pittsburgh’s industrialists and their political machine.

Jack Shea, President of Allegheny County Labor Council, and Frank Sirianni, President of the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, gave the opening remarks at the Memorial Day ceremony.

United Steelworkers District 10 Director John DeFazio read the Workers Memorial Day Proclamation.

A procession of the Pittsburgh Firefighters Local 1 Bagpipe and Color Guard led the service. And for closing ceremonies, Mark Custer and William Hughes from the Pittsburgh Musician's Union Local 60-471 played Taps.