May 3, 2014 at 4:24 p.m.
Fallen workers remembered in Rhinelander ceremony
Fallen workers remembered in Rhinelander ceremony
There were songs, speeches and moments of silence. Keynote speaker Father Dean Einerson of Saint Augustine's Church summed up the day.
"Today we're remembering all of those people (who lost their lives while on the job), almost all of whom we'll never, ever know. All of those people who got up, got dressed, went to work, all those people who had better things to do when their shift was over, ... all those people who had plans for the weekend, all those people who had plans for next summer, for the rest of their lives, all those people who went to work and did not come home, all those people for whom work was never done because they never got to punch out," Einerson said.
"We remember the numbers. In 2011, 4,693 people were killed at work. That word killed, I think, is important. They didn't die gently. They didn't pass away. They didn't sigh and slip off to a better place. They were killed - 4,693 men and women were killed. That's 13 persons a day. (We remember) the widows and children, the spouses, the partners and all the people who waited (and) are left alone because the person who was the rest of their life, did not come home."
Einerson said Workers Memorial Day resonates around the world and called for solidarity amongst the working class across the globe.
"Who we are is simply the working class, not the middle class, not the 99 percent, not American workers, not the private sector, not public employees, not white men, not women. We are the working class here in Oneida County and we are the working class in Detroit and Milwaukee and Seattle. We're the working class in Wisconsin and Mississippi and New Jersey. We're the working class in the Republic of Ireland and the Union of South Africa. We're the working class of Rhinelander and Istanbul and Dhaka in Bangladesh," Einerson said. "If you work for a living, you're a worker. If you sell your labor, if you sell your brains and muscles, if you sell your intelligence and experience and wisdom and knowledge in order to get the food, shelter and care that you and your family need in order to live, then you're a worker and you're a member of the working class."
"The employing class is organized worldwide. We need to organize. We need to recognize our brothers and sisters around the world as part of the same working class that we are. We need to imagine an alternative by looking for what connects us to the working class around the world. We need to imagine an alternative by living in solidarity, the sort of solidarity that feels the sting whenever, wherever one of us is slapped," he added. "We need to grow into solidarity across continents and oceans, solidarity across nations and states, solidarity across the working class, solidarity in the Northwoods, solidarity in Oneida County, solidarity right here in Rhinelander, solidarity now, solidarity forever."
After Einerson spoke, the name of each deceased worker was spoken and a bell was rung. The group then sang a song by Ralph Chapin called "Solidarity Forever."
Jackie Cody, a member of the Northern Wisconsin Center for Working People, one of three organizations that sponsored the memorial along with the North Central Labor Coalition and Northwoods Labor Solidarity, said it was great to see so many people come to honor the fallen. She said organizers hope to expand the event next year.
"It's great to see everyone come to remember those who have lost their lives while on the job. I love to do this observance," Cody said. "It's our third year and next year we'll have a new place to hold the observance, it'll be in a park, so hopefully even more people will come. People should not lose their lives when they walk out the door in the morning and this is just one way of remembering them."
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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