April 28 marks the fourth annual Workers Memorial Day to
remember those who have died on the job.
As the Bush administration and the Republican Congress lead
a harsh, vindictive attack on worker health and safety standards, American
workers need to organize at every level to protect themselves.
Last year, the UAW experienced too many deaths.
Fifteen members were killed on the job. And with weaker
labor laws, more workers’ lives are on the line.
As the deaths of the lost workers are mourned all over the
country, UAW locals and regions are hosting memorials to remember those
who have died at work.
UAW members are strongly encouraged to participate in local
and regional activities.
Here are the UAW members who died on the job last year and
whose deaths were reported to the union’s Health and Safety Dept.
Steve Schneider, 48, UAW Local 94, John Deere Dubuque Works,
Dubuque, Iowa. He was crushed between the head of a drilling fixture
and the frame of the adjacent station on an engine block transfer line.
Daniel Schonmeier, 58, UAW Local 668, GM Saginaw Metal Casting
Operations, Saginaw, Mich. He was pinned between the back of a sand
distribution car and the sand hopper.
James Hunt, 53, UAW Local 425, Ford Lorain Assembly, Lorain,
Ohio. He died when another car hit him after he pulled over his supply
transportation truck to help an injured motorist.
William Marsh, 51, UAW Local 155, Bing Steel, Melvindale, Mich.
He died when steel coils fell on him.
Gwendolyn Blackwell, 35, UAW Local 122, DaimlerChrysler Twinsburg
Stamping, Twinsburg, Ohio. She was crushed between a rack and a fork
truck.
Lazaro Fuentes, 50, UAW Local 12, DaimlerChrysler Jeep Assembly
Plant, Toledo, Ohio. He was crushed by transfer rails.
James R. Sanson, 56, UAW Local 2317, Fairfield Manufacturing,
Lafayette, Ind. He died when a punch press fell on him.
Janis Ruston, 53, UAW Local 9699, Unique Fabricating, Inc.,
Rochester Hills, Mich. She was crushed between the plates of a clam-shell
press.
Barry Gerber, 52, UAW Local 677, Americold Logistics, Nesquehoning,
Penn. He was pinned by the fork lift he was operating.
Larry Green, 56, UAW Local 228, Visteon Corporation, Sterling
Axle Plant, Sterling Heights, Mich. He was crushed between a conveyor
and an automatic gantry loader.
Dwayne Smith, 42, UAW Local 417, Sennett Steel Corporation,
Madison Heights, Mich. He was crushed by rolls of steel.
Kenneth Hudgens, 54, UAW Local 737, Visteon Nashville Glass,
Nashville, Tenn. He was crushed when a machine he was servicing began
to cycle.
Bishop Jenkins, 42, UAW Local 429, New Haven Foundry, New Haven,
Mich. He died when a rack fell on top of him.
Michael Spears, 28, UAW Local 1284, Chrysler Proving Grounds,
Chelsea, Mich. He died after falling from a truck while picking up traffic
cones from a driving course.
David Lyons, 51, UAW Local 696, Delphi Chassis, Dayton, Ohio.
He was crushed by a semi-truck trailer as he was working on a shipping/receiving
dock.
