Memorial for CT workers killed on job

GROTON, Conn. (WTNH) - Every year, dozens of workers are either killed or severely injured on the job in Connecticut. On Thursday, one of the nation's largest unions honored those victims, and is using the occasion to push legislation aimed at improving safety for all employees.

The memorial garden in Groton was established for those killed or severely injured on the job. Family members and friends dropped flowers Thursday morning to remember the lives lost.

The AFL-CIO has established April 28th as Workers' Memorial Day.

"We remember those who have given their lives at work and those who didn't come home or didn't come home the way they left," says Mayor of Groton, Dennis Popp.

Last August, a distraught, recently fired employee, opened fire at Hartford Distributors, killing eight workers and injuring two others. A month earlier in Bridgeport, two firefighters lost their lives battling a house fire.

One labor leader admonished politicians for not doing enough in the name of worker's safety.

"What have we done in the last 25 years, what legislation has happened that made it better for workers? There are attacks on unions, attacks on health and safety, they're attacking everything that's safer for workers. Where's their conscious," says Michael Fitts of Connecticosh .

At the state Capitol, union leaders another rally was happening. The president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO argued in favor of a pending piece of legislation called The Captive Audience.

"It gives us a right to not be held captive and told by employers that unions are bad and let me say this about health and safety, about the workers in this country, if the labor movement isn't growing we aren't going to have any health and safety for workers in this country," says John Olsen of AFL-CIO.

The people at both of the rallies only hope that in the future no more new stones will have to be placed in the memorial garden.