Labor Solicitor nominee supports role for victims « The Pump Handle

Labor Solicitor nominee supports role for victims « The Pump Handle

Facebook | Your Notes

Facebook | Your Notes
MY BROTHER DID NOT DIE IN VAIN

My brother, Gary, was killed on the job, at a plant called Meadville Redi-Mix.
His family, his friends, his future was robbed when he fell 25 feet to his death.
Sent to clean and shovel gravel in his final hour, all alone at the top of a concrete tower.
On a dangerous loft without being tied off, with no safety equipment or warning signs up.
And when the OSHA man came, the Company claimed, they didn’t send him up there, they weren’t to blame.
(Chorus) Two 9-11’s, 6,000 a year, so much injustice, so many tears;
Who will rise up and wipe away their fears, so my brother did not die in vain?

A steelworker’s son who knew right from wrong, he worked hard and lived in quiet dignity.
From the school of hard knocks at the bottom of Mckees Rocks, he took good care of his family.
He got a job close to home to look after his sons, he did it with love, whatever had to be done.
And though the job wasn’t safe and the pay wasn’t good, he wanted to help them out all that he could.
To always be there, for his family and wife; they were the light , the love of his life.

(Chorus)

From the time I was born, he took me under his arms, made me feel like we were a team.
He protected and taught me, through school he brought me; he was the ultimate little sister’s dream.
He bore his burden like a saint without any complaints; a finer father, a finer husband a finer brother there ain’t.
He was my knight in shining armour, my hero, my friend. A giant among workers, a good union man What I am, I owe it all to him; I owe everything I am to him.

(Chorus)
After OSHA inspected they blindly accepted that he wandered up there all on his own.
The game was the same, the victim’s to blame; the fix it was on once again.
And though this Company was fined on past numerous times, for safety violations of all serious kinds,
It’s just a ‘Class B’ misdemeanour, a travesty still, when a worker on the job gets injured or killed.
It’s negotiate with the devil to downgrade the level, the Company gets a voice, the victims family no choice.
And after the ‘Abatement’, OSHA issued their statement:
A six-thousand dollar fine for not posting a sign.
Another white-wash, another criminal gets off;
Another worker, another brother is lost.

(Chorus) Two 9-11’s, six-thousand a year, so much injustice, so many tears.
Well dry your weary eyes, wipe away your fears.
His body’s in the grave, his spirit’s still here.
I found my salvation, my mission is clear.
I’ll fight for the rights of those injured and maimed.
Their cause in my heart will remain – my brother did not die in vain.
My brother, Gary, did not die in vain.


Words & music by Mike Stout, March 2009

Mike is an artist, a community leader and activist and a true spokesman for the working class who justly deserves his title “the World’s grievance man’”. He has toured Europe and the US, and has produced many CD’s delivering his message of solidarity through his music.

National Briefing - Washington - Report Faults OSHA - NYTimes.com

National Briefing - Washington - Report Faults OSHA - NYTimes.com

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration did not follow correct procedures in 97 percent of sampled cases in the Enhanced Enforcement Program...NO WONDER MY BROTHER GARY PULEIO is DEAD and OSHA found NO WRONG DOING in the case

Gary Puleio Retrospective

Gary Puleio (4/13/1948—8/15/2001) http://garypuleio.blogspot.com was killed at Meadville Redi-Mix Concrete, where he had been employed only 3 months as a non union cement truck driver. He fell 25 feet while shoveling gravel off a hopper at the top of a concrete t tower. The company claimed he “just wandered up there on his own” not wearing any safety equipment at the end of his driving shift rather than being assigned this dangerous task. OSHA accepted this implausible excuse and after admitting NO wrongdoing Redi-Mix paid a $6000 fine for REPEAT violations for not posting signs at a confined space. Redi-Mix had multiple serious violations issued only months before Gary was killed which were informally settled with reduced fines. This video is a tribute to a fine man whose life was brutally taken due to unsafe working conditions, lack of corporate accountability and an inadequate regulatory system

OSHA Inspection Meadville Redi-Mix Part1

Part 1: Gary Puleio, a cement truck driver was killed at Meadville Redi-Mix Concrete on 8/15/2001 after falling from a concrete tower. OSHA accepted the implausible excuse offered by Redi-Mix that Gary just "wandered up there on his own" at the end of the driving shift rather than, as a new employee, being assigned the dangerous task of cleaning the tower without any safety equipment. This short video ( part 2 follows below) made by 1 inspector alone using a portable camera was all that was deemed necessary despite the fact that Redi-Mix had been cited for numerous serious violations only months before Gary was killed. Years passed before this facility was inspected again. The company paid a $6000 fine for REPEAT violations and accepted no wrongdoing.
View video at http://www.youtube.com/dvpuleio

PART 2 OSHA Inspection Meadville Redi-Mix

Part 1 of video is posted above. Video can also be seen at http://www.youtube.com/dvpuleio