SCR173 • 2025

RECOGNIZING APRIL 28, 2026, AS WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Walsh
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: Passed 4/23/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The resolution does not explicitly state that it promotes the goal of safe and just workplaces, although this is implied in its purpose.

Recognizing April 28, 2026 as Workers Memorial Day in Delaware

This resolution makes April 28, 2026, Workers Memorial Day in Delaware to remember workers who died on the job and support safer workplaces.

What This Bill Does

Recognizes April 28, 2026 as Workers Memorial Day in Delaware.
Calls upon all Delawareans to remember those who have died or been injured at work.
Encourages supporting policies that protect worker safety.

Who It Names or Affects

All residents of Delaware are encouraged to participate.

Terms To Know

Workers Memorial Day: A day set aside to remember workers who have died or been injured on the job and to promote safer workplaces.
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a U.S. government agency that sets workplace safety standards.

Limits and Unknowns

This resolution does not create new laws or regulations.
It is up to Delaware residents to decide how they will observe Workers Memorial Day.
The exact impact on worker safety policies remains unclear.

Bill History

2026-04-23 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced in Senate
2026-04-23 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
2026-04-23 Delaware General Assembly
Passed In House by Voice Vote

Official Summary Text

RECOGNIZING APRIL 28, 2026, AS WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
This resolution recognizes April 28, 2026, as Workers Memorial Day in the State of Delaware and calls upon all Delawareans to remember those who have died on the job, to support policies that protect the living, and to advance the cause of safe and just workplaces for all.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Walsh & Rep. Osienski

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 173

RECOGNIZING APRIL 28, 2026, AS WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, every year, thousands of workers are killed and millions more are injured or diseased due to hazardous working conditions; and

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) released its 34th annual Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect report, revealing that an alarming 385 U.S. workers died every day in 2023 due to hazardous working conditions, amounting to 5,283 fatalities from traumatic injury and an estimated 135,304 deaths from occupational disease; and

WHEREAS, the report further reveals stark inequities in workplace safety: Black workers are dying at higher rates than other workers, and Latino workers suffer the highest job fatality rate—26% above the national average; and

WHEREAS, serious threats persist across industries, including a 57% increase in serious workplace violence injuries among health care and social assistance workers over the past 15 years; and

WHEREAS, exposure to extreme heat claimed the lives of at least 55 U.S. workers in recent years—a number known to be a significant undercount due to inadequate tracking and reporting; and

WHEREAS, despite these dangers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) remains severely underfunded and understaffed; and

WHEREAS, Workers Memorial Day is observed annually on April 28 to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives or suffered injury or illness on the job, and to recommit to the promise of safer working conditions for all; and

WHEREAS, April 28 also marks the anniversary of the creation of OSHA in 1971, and serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made, and the urgent work that remains; and

WHEREAS, the State of Delaware honors the labor and sacrifice of working men and women across all sectors— from construction and public safety to education, manufacturing, and healthcare—and reaffirms its commitment to protecting their well-being.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that April 28, 2026, is hereby recognized as Workers Memorial Day in the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly calls upon all Delawareans to remember those who have died on the job, to support policies that protect the living, and to advance the cause of safe and just workplaces for all.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution recognizes April 28, 2026, as Workers Memorial Day in the State of Delaware and calls upon all Delawareans to remember those who have died on the job, to support policies that protect the living, and to advance the cause of safe and just workplaces for all.

Author: Senator Walsh