SPRINGFIELD — Labor organizations across Illinois will gather Tuesday to honor workers who have lost their lives on the job, marking Workers’ Memorial Day and the 55th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The law, which took effect on April 28, 1971, established the foundation for workplace safety protections nationwide, guaranteeing workers the right to a safe job. Union leaders say the annual observance serves as both a remembrance and a renewed call to strengthen those protections.

In Springfield, the Illinois AFL-CIO, alongside the Springfield & Central Illinois Trades & Labor Council, will host a morning ceremony at its headquarters to honor fallen workers. Families will gather as flowers are placed in remembrance, and three names will be formally added: Decatur electrician Samuel Ward, Hillsboro coal miner Jessie Edward Smith, and Springfield golf course superintendent Daniel Crumrine.

The Springfield event is one of many taking place statewide as unions and labor councils coordinate tributes in communities large and small. A full list of events highlights the breadth of participation and the shared commitment to honoring workers across Illinois.

In Alton, union members will gather in the evening at Gordon Moore Park for a memorial program, while Bloomington will host an early morning ceremony at White Oak Park featuring the reading of more than 300 names of fallen workers. Champaign and Danville will each hold events with local labor leaders and elected officials, including wreath presentations and community remarks.

In Chicago, an evening vigil is planned at the historic Union Stockyard Gates, organized by the Chicago Federation of Labor and Chicago Jobs with Justice. Additional observances are scheduled in Decatur, Peoria, the Quad Cities, and other communities, with many ceremonies including the reading of names, moments of silence, and opportunities for families to participate.

Organizers say these events reflect a statewide and national effort to recognize the human cost of workplace hazards while advocating for stronger safety enforcement and protections. From large urban gatherings to smaller local ceremonies, each event underscores the same message: the fight for safe jobs is ongoing.

As Illinois marks more than five decades since OSHA’s passage, labor leaders emphasize that Workers’ Memorial Day remains as relevant as ever—serving as a reminder that behind every workplace statistic is a life, a family, and a community forever changed.