MCAA, UA Release Joint Statement Condemning Workplace Violence in Wake of Amber Czech Murder
Key Highlights
- Amber Czech was a young welder killed at her workplace in Cokato, Minnesota
- Union leaders from UA and MCAA issued a joint statement emphasizing safety, respect, and the need to prevent workplace violence
- The incident underscores the importance of fostering a respectful work environment where harassment and bullying are actively addressed
On November 11, Amber Czech, a 20-year-old welder working in Cokato, Minnesota was attacked and killed in her workplace at Advance Process Technologies, a manufacturer of food processing equipment. Prosecutors have charged her killer with second-degree murder.
UA, MCAA Response
In response, United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) General President Mark McManus and Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) President Brian Hughes have issued a joint statement that reads:
“The United Association and the MCAA are saddened by the senseless murder of Amber Czech, a 20-year-old welder at the very beginning of what should have been a long and successful career.
“Even though she was not a member, Amber deserved the very same protections and safety on the jobsite that form the backbone of our organizations. Every worker—regardless of gender, race, identity, affiliation with a union, or any other circumstance—deserves to come home safely from the job every day. Even more, every worker deserves the same basic dignity from their coworkers to create a safe and respectful work environment.
“At the UA and the MCAA, we are proud to partner together to change the culture of the jobsite for the better. It is on all of us to look out for our Brothers and Sisters, to speak up when something isn’t right, and to prevent the kind of harassment and bullying that leads to tragedy. Every worker deserves respect, safety,and dignity, period.
“We hope that workers across North America will honor Amber’s memory and use her legacy to change the culture in our industry and protect our Brothers and Sisters on and off the jobsite.”
A Nationwide Problem
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), of the 5,283 fatal workplace injuries that occurred in the United States in 2023 (the last year for which data is available), 740 fatalities were due to violent acts. Homicides (458) accounted for 61.9 percent of violent acts and 8.7 percent of all work-related fatalities.
To learn more about risk factors that can lead to workplace violence and steps that can be taken to prevent workplace violence, visit https://www.osha.gov/workplace-violence.