On April 28, CSEA and workers around the world will remember those who went to work — and never came home.
On Workers’ Memorial Day, we remember those who died or became severely injured while doing their jobs, including our CSEA brothers and sisters. Since Workers’ Memorial Day 2016, we have lost one CSEA brother — Western Region member Donald Schultz.
We remember them not just as workers who passed away on the job, but as the people they were and how their losses touch their loved ones, communities and our union.
We also use the day to renew our ongoing commitment to safe and healthy workplaces. These workplace deaths are preventable, and we will continue to fight until everyone can do their jobs safely.
Please take time to attend a Workers’ Memorial Day near you. Visit your CSEA region page at cseany.org/workforce in coming weeks for more information.
In Memoriam
Donald Schultz, 53
Oct. 29, 2016
Town of West Seneca Highway Department employee Donald Schultz passed away Oct. 29, 2016, from injuries he had sustained on Oct. 25, 2016, from a town sewer maintenance vehicle while he was flushing a sanitary sewer line.
He was the father of six children. According to a GoFundMe page that friends and co-workers had set up for Schultz’ family, he was a “pillar of his community” who took pride in his work and in his family.
His CSEA brothers and sisters and community members have been reaching out to Schultz’ family. In February, our Erie County Local Women’s Committee made a donation to the Schultz family as part of an event honoring local individuals and nonprofits.
As we face proposed federal Right-to-Work legislation and see an increasing number of states pass Right-to-Work laws, it’s important to remember the important role of unions in the ongoing fight for safe and healthy workplaces.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of workplace deaths is 49 percent higher in states with right-to-work laws.
Town to get PESH violations for workplace death
WEST SENECA — The state Public Employees Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau will issue two violations to the Town of West Seneca following the Oct. 29, 2016 death of longtime employee and CSEA member Donald Schultz (see above).
Schultz sustained serious injuries on Oct. 25, 2016, from a town sewer maintenance vehicle while he was flushing a sanitary sewer line. He died from his injuries at a local hospital four days later.
CSEA and PESH’s investigation of the incident led PESH to issue the violations: one for failing to notify PESH of the fatal incident within the required eight-hour time frame, and the other for not having employees follow the equipment manufacturer’s instructions for keeping truck in place while working around it.
In addition to correcting the PESH violations, the town officials have agreed to provide employees with more training on equipment operations, to revive their use of the CSEA Peer Trainer Program and having PESH regularly evaluate the town’s safety programs.
