Workers Memorial Day Events on April 28
Alton – The Greater Madison County Federation of Labor Workers Memorial program will be held Monday, April 28 at 7:00pm at Gordon Moore Park, at the Workers Memorial Site, Highway 140, in Alton Illinois. In the case of inclement weather, the program will be held indoors at the Muensterman Building. Please notify Nick Dodson at (618) 363-1384, or B. Dean Webb at 618-259-8558 if you know of a worker with a fatal or permanently disabling injury so that we may honor them during the program.
Bloomington – The Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly will gather at 6 am on Monday, April 28, Workers Memorial Day, at Bloomington's White Oak Park, 1514 N Cottage Avenue. Over 300 names of area fallen workers will be read in a brief, pre-work ceremony.
On Tuesday, April 29, 6:30 p.m., the McLean County Museum of History is hosting a panel discussion, The Silent Killer: Dangers of Asbestos in the Workplace in conjunction with its “Deadly Deception: Asbestos in McLean County” exhibit. From 1951-1972 the United Rubber & Asbestos Company (UNARCO) wove asbestos fibers at its Bloomington plant, leading to over one hundred fatalities. Panelists include Cheryl Wills, whose father William Tipsord died from mesothelioma at age 57 after working at UNARCO; local attorney James Walker, who represented many plant workers and their families; Goerge Martinez, Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) asbestos remediation instructor; LIUNA 362 retiree Larry Mertes, who worked at UNARCO, and closing remarks offered by Dr. Ericka Wills, University of Wisconsin School for Workers Assistant Professor. WGLT-FM’s senior reporter Charlie Schlenker will moderate the panel. The event is free and open to the public at the Museum, 200 N. Main Street, Bloomington. The exhibit will also be open that evening. More information is available at http://www.mchistory.org
Champaign – Monday, April 28th at 5:00 pm - A memorial event is set at the Champaign County Worker Memorial site in Dodds Park, 1501 N. Mattis Avenue in Champaign, IL. Champaign County AFL-CIO President Matt Kelly and East Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades President Kevin Sage will be joined by elected officials and community leaders for remarks and a memorial wreath presentation.
Chicago - Join the Chicago Federation of Labor and Chicago Jobs with Justice on Workers’ Memorial Day 2025 to mourn the lives of the workers who have died and to recommit to fight like hell for the living! In 1910, 21 Firefighters lost their lives in the Chicago Stockyards Fire. 115 years later, we will honor their sacrifice with the Chicago Fire Department along with our Labor brothers, sisters, and siblings in the struggle. This event will take place on Monday April 28, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. at the Union Stockyard Gates, located at W Exchange Ave and S Peoria Street in Chicago, IL. RSVP here for more information: https://actionnetwork.org/events/workers-memorial-day-union-stockyards/
Danville – Vermilion County Federation of Labor will host a Workers’ Memorial Ceremony on the Southwest corner of Williams St. and Hazel St. on April 26th at 9:00am.
Decatur – Monday, April 28, Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly Workers’ Memorial Day Service, 5:30pm on the northwest corner of the Macon County Courthouse lawn, located at 253 West Wood Street in downtown Decatur. It will include reading of the names of those who have died on the job. Contact Lloyd Holman, 217-620-4923 or Lamarcus Williams at 217-413-3577.
Galesburg – Monday, April 28, at 5:30pm at the Galesburg Trades & Labor office, 1640 N. Henderson Street in Galesburg.
Peoria – Monday April 28, Labor Council of West Central Illinois Workers’ Memorial Service. At 6:00pm, gather at the Workers’ Memorial Monument at City Hall, 419 Fulton Street, Peoria. A brief memorial to honor our fallen brothers & sisters who have died or have been seriously injured as a result of workplace accidents. Contact Chase Carlton at 309- 665-2108 or Amy Flynn at 309-674-5181.
Quad Cities – USW Local 105, IBEW 1379 and ARCONIC Davenport Works leadership invite Quad City area working families to join them in a national observance of Workers Memorial Day. On Monday, April 28, 2025, working families in the Quad City area will gather at the USW Local 105 hall to commemorate Workers Memorial Day. This is a time for families and union members to remember sisters and brothers who have died or have been injured on the job. The service will be one of hundreds held around the world. The ARCONIC Davenport Works – Joint Safety and Health Committee is sponsoring this service to recognize the workers who are no longer with us due to a work-related accident or illness. Workers Memorial will begin at 12pm doors open at 11:30am. Questions? Call 563-355-1181.
Rockford – Rockford United Labor (RUL) Workers’ Memorial will have details coming soon. For more information, contact Sara Dorner at 815-608-0834.
Springfield – Monday, April 28, the Springfield & Central Illinois Trades & Labor Council and the Illinois AFL-CIO will host a press conference and ceremony at 10:00am at the Illinois AFL-CIO Front Plaza located at 534 S. Second Street in Springfield, IL. We will honor all who have lost their lives on the job. Families of fallen workers will be invited and flowers will be placed in their memory.