skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Minnesota Marks "Workers' Memorial Day"

play audio
Play

Monday, April 30, 2007   


Minnesota workers are marking "Workers' Memorial Day" today by remembering those killed on the job. Diane O'Brien with the state AFL-CIO says it's also a call for safer state workplaces.

"Eighty-seven people died on the job in 2005. Ninety thousand Minnesotans in 2005 had workplace-related illnesses or injuries. That's unacceptable. The vast majority of these illnesses, injuries or deaths are preventable."

She notes that the "Memorial Day" falls on the anniversary of the "Occupational Health and Safety Act" designed to provide protections in the workplace. She believes that law isn't being adequately enforced, and that there are ways to make workplaces safer.

“We can certainly make sure that employers are following the laws, providing the safety equipment, the safety training and the safety resources that they're required to provide.”

She adds that the trend in recent years, both on the state and national level, has been to weaken workplace safety, at the urging of businesses that don't want additional costs or regulations.

Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz is scheduled to speak today at a Worker Memorial Day meeting in Rochester. He believes employees need to represent themselves, and have a say in their job safety.

“It's an important issue for me that the workers and people that have fought to try and make workplace safety a priority make sure that basic human rights, basic safety requirements, the dignity of the workers were adhered to. And, we have people working jobs that are dangerous. We have people still getting killed. And, it's important to me because I want to make sure that we have a good balance of federal legislation that protects workers, but is not overly burdensome.”

High on Walz’s list is reauthorization of Railway Safety Act, which was last updated a dozen years ago.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021