What a difference (for workers' safety and health) 55 years makes

The U.S. labor movement recently marked Workers Memorial Day, mourning those who were sickened, injured or killed on the job.

It was an occasion to realize how much Republicans have changed. It was during the Nixon administration, on April 28, 1971, that the Occupational Safety and Health Act went into effect -- after three years of lobbying.

Passed by Congress in 1970 and signed into law by GOP President Richard Nixon that December, it created federal program ensuring nationwide standards for job safety and healthy working conditions for U.S. workers.

PICTURED: Seated at the signing of OSHA are, left to right, AFL-CIO President George Meany, President Richard Nixon, and Labor Secretary George Schultz.