Families unite to honor fallen PennDOT brother
Members of the Walker, PennDOT, and AFSCME families became one on a chilly, sunny October morning at the Huntingdon County PennDOT Maintenance Office to honor the life of Rodney “Craig” Walker.
Craig passed away on August 30, 2024, due to complications from an injury sustained on the job on December 7, 2023.
He was a member of AFSCME Local 2128 and a Diesel and Construction Equipment Mechanic with PennDOT for 18 years. He was counting down the weeks to a hard-earned retirement at the time of his injury.
Flowers are laid at the cross and hard hat representing Rodney “Craig” Walker’s addition to the PennDOT Traveling Worker’s Memorial.
Above all, Craig was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, who cherished his wife and children, and adored his two grandchildren.
It was clear that Craig’s family cherished and adored him back as they shared emotional remarks at the ceremony where a custom plaque honoring him was unveiled and flowers were presented as part of his addition to the PennDOT Traveling Worker’s Memorial.
He joins 90 other workers on the list of PennDOT employees who have lost their lives in service to their fellow Pennsylvanians. Following yet another tragic loss, AFSCME is renewing its call for safer working conditions for transportation workers and all public employees throughout the commonwealth, who are still not covered by OSHA or any similar protections.
Specifically, the union is demanding a public sector OSHA policy be passed and enacted in Pennsylvania. This can be achieved through House Bill 299, which passed in the State House last year with bipartisan support and now must be passed in the State Senate to get it signed into law by the governor. One of the best things we can do to honor fallen workers is to take meaningful steps to ensure such accidents never happen again.
AFSCME representatives attended the memorial ceremony and presented a check from the union’s Fallen Heroes Fund to Craig’s family. If you would like to contribute to this fund, click here.
Other speakers at the ceremony included PennDOT Secretary Michael Carroll, PennDOT District 9 Executive Vince Greenland, PennDOT Bureau of Maintenance Director Christa Newmaster, Highway Maintenance Manager Tony Tanzi, State Senator Judy Ward, and Pastor Gordon Trimer.
Members of Craig’s family shared some stories about Craig that illustrated his loving warmth, vast skillset, and good humor, as well as one of his final messages that he wrote for his wife despite his injury: “Be grateful. Be thankful.”
The AFSCME family is grateful and thankful for Craig’s service to his state and membership in his union. We will keep him and his beautiful family in our collective thoughts and prayers, and we will continue our efforts to ensure safer workplaces for all workers in Craig’s honor.
