On March 2, 2011 138 coffins covered the lawn of the Texas state capitol.

The Day of the Fallen was a great success, bringing together members of the community and beyond for a powerful display of unity at the steps of the State Capitol. With Texans converging in Austin traveling from El Paso to Houston and San Antonio, Dallas to the Valley, it was truly a statewide show of solidarity.

With over 100 community members busy educating legislators in the afternoon and asking for better protections for construction workers, 138 coffins were laid onto the lawn of the capitol in memory of the workers that died on the job in 2009 in Texas. With around 500 in attendance, Texans came out in full force for workers yesterday.

 

Please see below for press coverage links.

Best,
Workers Defense Project

Ask for your legislator’s support!
We have two new bills that have recently been filed and need the support of your local legislator. Please, use this link to find your state senator and representative and ask your legislators to support…

HB 2196 / SB 1024 to prevent wage theft
Authors: Rep. Eddie Rodriguez & Sen. Jose Rodriguez
This bill will clarify the language in Texas Penal Code 31.04 (Theft of Service) which will enable local law enforcement to enforce the law against employers  who do not pay their workers.

HB 1739 / SB 938 to provide workers compensation for all construction employees
Authors: Rep. Armando Walle & Sen. Eddie Lucio
This bill will require that workers compensation be provided for any and all construction employees in Texas; thus, reducing Texas’ uncompensated care costs in hospitals, lowering property taxes, and lifting the burden off of taxpayers.

Thank you!

Here are some of the first stories reported:

Austin American-Statesmen (Website)
Day of the Fallen
La Prensa San Antonio (Newspaper)
March highlights Texas’ problem with construction site deaths
Rio Grande Guardian (Newspaper)
Protests over large number of construction workers killed in Texas
La Voz (Newspaper)
Day of the Fallen
KVUE (Website)
Texas Construction workers march for better wages, safer working conditions
Texas Student TV (Website)
Day of the Fallen rally at the Capitol

Check out some great pictures by our very own Jason Cato!