MADISON, WI – Today, union leaders, workers, policy makers, and families gathered in downtown Madison for the 10th Annual Construction Workers’ Memorial Day, hosted by the Wisconsin Building Trades Council and the Construction Business Group. The solemn event honored the 16 construction workers in Wisconsin who lost their lives on job sites over the past year.
Beginning 2:30pm at Monona Terrace, a procession of union members and the families of workers lost in jobsite accidents walked the six blocks to St. Patrick’s Church, where a memorial service was held. The event served as both a tribute and a call to action — a reminder of the critical need for continued focus on safety across every job site in the state.
“This day is about remembering those we’ve lost this year while simultaneously recommitting ourselves to protecting those still on the job,” said Emily Pritzkow, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council. “No worker should have to risk their life to earn a living. We owe it to every family to continue the fight for safer standards and stronger enforcement.”
The event marks a decade of annual memorials, each underscoring the persistent risks in the construction industry and the collective responsibility of contractors, unions, lawmakers, and governmental agencies to reduce them.
“We know that what keeps projects safe is a commitment by every party involved – contractors, workers and governmental agencies – to getting workers home every night,” said Robb Kahl, Executive Director of Construction Business Group. “Everyone deserves a jobsite where safety is built into every decision, not treated as an afterthought.”
To learn more about the Wisconsin Building Trades Council and its ongoing work to support worker safety, visit https://wisconsinbuildingtrades.org.
The Wisconsin Building Trades Council (WBTC) is a membership organization representing the interests of 15 trade organizations and over 40,000 working men and women across the State of Wisconsin.
