Poems and Prayers for Workers Memorial Day

Sourced from America's Union Movement website: Memorial for Workers

I write these words of honor, for those who gave their lives;
And for their families, their husbands and their wives.
For those whose lives were spent, doing what they must
Working for a living like every one of us.
Their time cut short, by things that didn't have to be;
To make the workplace safer, for people like you and me.
To make sure their stories will never go untold;
To always keep their memories from ever growing cold.
We must remember the price they all had to pay;
When we honor the men and women on Workers Memorial Day.

Mike Baird
Lodge 21, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

Honor Earned
Here we stand to honor our dead;
To remember them as these words are read.
To give that honor that they have earned;
Is a lesson taught, a lesson learned.
These men and women who gave their all;
And answered God's hallowed call.
And even though we are apart
They live on in our minds and heart.
So, bow your head and let us pray;
God bless them all on this day.

Mike Baird
Lodge 21, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

Always Remember
We bow our heads in silent grace;
Proud to stand upon this place.
To honor those who we love and lost;
Whose lives were taken at such a cost.
Through the pain and sorrow, for all the brave and true;
To always be remembered by me and by you.
To heal the minds and hearts, of those who still live;
Always remembering what they had to give.
Live your lives with pride in hearing what I say;
May God bless and keep you on this and every day.

Mike Baird
Lodge 21, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

Ouch, I'm Tender
© 2000 by Luis Vasquez (UAW)
Sung to the tune of "Love Me Tender" by Elvis

Hurt my shoulder
Pulling parts
Pain goes down my arm

Carpal tunnel
Manager says
Won't do me no harm

Went to visit
Company doc
Oh boy, what a thrill

Inject some steroids
Pop some pills
All my pain to kill

Repetition,
Bend and twist
Screwed up both my wrists

Bending, lifting
What's the risk?
Blown out all my disks

Workers injured
Some made lame
Then they're made to blame

Fit the worker
To the job
Isn't that a shame

Ouch, I'm tender
This is true
All these strains and sprains

All my aching
Body parts
Driving me insane

Awkward postures
Excessive force
All my joints to swell

Ergonomics
Please come soon
'Cause I hurt like hell

A Prayer for the Fallen

We remember those we have lost with great fondness.

They gave much to the world; as individuals, family members, friends and work colleagues.

We remember their families in their enormous sadness.

For those who have died at work building a better place for the rest of us.

Those who died while constructing our buildings and expressways, hospitals and schools.

For those who have died young and innocent, victims of avoidable accidents

May we learn from this loss, honour the memory of those lost

And work towards a safer work place for all people

Where the rights and dignity of all workers are upheld above all else

Rev. Ian Lawton

When My Work Was Never Done

I left home that day as someone's:
Child
Mother
Father
Sister
Brother
Friend
And loved one;

When my work was never done.

I innocently went to work that day as a:
Laborer
Carpenter
Office Worker
Co-Worker
And a victim.

When my work was never done.

And now you mourn for me as:
Family
Friends
Survivors
Fighters

When my work was never done.

I ask that on this day remember.

Although my work was never done, our work has just begun.

LaVerne Mayfield,
Dedicated in loving memory of her sister Lillian.

We mourn workers who have died in the past and present.

We mourn the losses of those in shirt factories, chicken plants and Bophal. We cry for our members who have died from it all.

We vow to protect our members from the deaths of corporate greed; we declare good health and safety as our creed.

May our tears, sweat and labor strengthen our faith to keep us safe for now and the future.

This we will pledge in solidarity.

Amen