Workers Memorial Day
A time to remember
Jon Kelley Wright’s shift on Sept. 21, 2007, started as a regular work day for the UAW Local 1166 member, who had more than 20 years on the job.
But by 5 a.m. the next day, Wright, a 48-year-old machine operator at Chrysler LLC’s Kokomo (Ind.) Transmission plant, was found crushed to death.
Wright was working on a die cast machine making visual checks of parts and removing overflows from bell housings. At 2 a.m. he notified his supervisor of problems with an ejector limit switch. He also told his supervisor that if the bolt came loose again, a skilled tradesman would have to be called.
Three hours later, a co-worker found him crushed near the ejector limit switch. Wright entered the machine through an access door equipped with a basic safety interlock, but he was crushed between the slide and die block when the machine cycled.
April 28 is Workers Memorial Day. Across the nation, in and Canada and Puerto Rico, UAW members and local unions will honor the fallen at rallies, tree-planting ceremonies and other events.
Seven UAW members were killed on the job in 2007. Four of the seven were working alone when they died.
We pay tribute to Brother Wright and all of our UAW brothers and sisters who were killed or injured on the job in 2007. And we extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends.