April 28th is a special day on the calendar, especially for the construction industry. It is Workers’ Memorial Day, marking the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act going into effect in 1971. This year, Local 3 joined the NYC Central Labor Council and New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) for a ceremony outside 345 Park Avenue, in honor of SEIU 32BJ member and security guard Aland Etienne, who made the ultimate sacrifice during a mass shooting on July 29, 2025. Participants read the names of more than 40 workers who died or were killed on the job in New York City since April 2025.
The next day, April 29th, Local 3 joined the Building and Construction Trades Council for the Construction Workers Memorial Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. With hardhats on, Fr. Brian Jordan, the chaplain of the BCTC and Catholic Council of Electrical Workers, led the banner procession into the cathedral alongside his fellow clergy, hundreds of union members, and the Sword of Light band. The bilingual Mass was dedicated to the ten construction workers who died on the job in New York City since April 2025, eight of whom were non-union workers who are predominantly immigrants facing extreme exploitation and living in fear of deportation. In addition to the ten fallen construction workers, the Mass was also dedicated to the victims of 9/11, post-9/11 related illnesses, and all workers who have died on the job. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression or mental health, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7/365, and Local 3’s Member Assistance Program (MAP) can be reached at (718) 591-2000 ext. 1396. The BCTC has also established its Peer Support Program for further assistance. Please contact Organizing Director Ray Kitson or call the Construction Desk at (718) 591-4000 ext. 440 to sign up to become an on-site peer supporter.
