Today is Workers Memorial Day, aimed at honoring the sacrifices some have made in trying to do their job and make a living.

According to the AFL-CIO, on this day, “working people throughout the world remember those who were hurt or killed on the job and renew our struggle for safe workplaces. In town squares and union halls, at worksites and memorials, in community after community — we are gathering to remember our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives and to fight for safe workplaces and for good jobs for all workers.”

The union started Workers Memorial Day in 1970 to push for better protections, conditions and standards to hopefully reduce work-related deaths, injuries and diseases, according to the AFL-CIO.

No matter what your opinions might be about unions, all can agree that’s a worthy goal.

And the day provides a needed reminder of those who lost life or health when such safeguards were absent or fell short.

While no local observance appears to be planned, a gathering will happen at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time today at Ronn Hall in Negaunee, according to the Marquette Alger Central Labor Council.

And a different type of labor-related ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m., also Eastern time, at the Italian Hall Memorial Site in Calumet in memory of the 73 workers and children who perished in the 1913 Italian Hall Tragedy.

According to the Marquette Mining Journal, the site marks where “in the Copper Country, a 1913 Christmas Eve party at the Italian Hall turned tragic when someone shouted ‘fire,’ starting a stampede to the door in which 73 people — many striking miners and their children — were crushed to death. No one was determined responsible.”

So even if you can’t attend an event, take a moment today to think about how far the country has come in improving working conditions, how much remains to be done and the cost some paid to gain the level of safety most of us now count on when doing our jobs.