Murder of Young Welder at Minnesota Workplace Sparks Union, Industry Outcry
The murder of 20-year-old welder Amber Czech by a coworker in Minnesota has sent shockwaves through the construction trades
CHANGE: Amber Czech's murder has sparked national calls for change in jobsite safety and culture across the trades.
Amber Czech, a 20-year-old welder and tradeswoman, was murdered by a coworker on November 11, 2025, while working at a dairy equipment manufacturing facility in Wright County, Minnesota. Czech's body was discovered by another employee after she was bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer. The accused assailant, 40-year-old David Bruce DeLong, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with first-degree murder. According to police charging documents, DeLong told investigators he "didn't like" Czech, and prosecutors say there was no previous altercation leading up to the attack, according to ENR.
Union and Community Reaction
Though Czech was not a SMART union member, her murder sent shockwaves through the sheet metal and broader trades community. In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, SMART Union wrote:
"Amber Czech was 20 years old. A welder. A daughter. A young woman who showed up for her shift at 6 a.m. on a Tuesday, hoping to build a better future. She was murdered at her workplace by a 40-year-old coworker… all because he 'didn’t like her.' No argument. No reason. No humanity. This is devastating — and infuriating — for everyone in our community. We must demand better protections, stronger support systems, and a zero-tolerance culture for violence and harassment on every worksite."
The tragedy quickly drew national attention, with additional statements from the SMART Women’s Committee and North America's Building Trades Unions emphasizing the urgent need for changes in industry practices and culture to protect workers, especially women, from violence and harassment.
"Violence like this rarely comes out of nowhere," the Committee wrote. "It often follows a buildup that women in the trades know by heart: harassment shrugged off, bullying tolerated, intimidation minimized, warning signs dismissed, fear of backlash, comments ignored, jokes explained away, the stares of resentment, and behaviors everyone chooses not to see until they can no longer look away."
They called on "employers, contractors, supervisors and every person on a job site to confront the culture that allowed this to happen."
Industry-Wide Calls for Safety Reform
Amber Czech’s killing has been described by multiple trade leaders and safety advocates as a call to action. Trade groups have used the case to renew demands for better safety protocols, more transparency about workplace threats, and increased accountability from employers.
Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions, stated, “We are outraged by this senseless and brutal act, and we need to push for systemic changes to ensure that no one is ever unsafe at work — especially not because of their gender or who they are."
SMART Union and other workers’ organizations now urge comprehensive reporting systems, mandatory support resources for workers facing or witnessing harassment, and strict enforcement of zero-tolerance policies toward all forms of workplace violence.
Remembering Amber Czech
Though not affiliated with a union at the time, Czech was recognized posthumously by labor organizations as emblematic of many young women facing persistent risks in skilled trades. Her death, advocates say, has catalyzed ongoing discussions about gender-based violence, workplace safety, and the kinds of industry reforms needed to protect all workers.
Czech’s family and colleagues, supported by the national trades community, continue to honor her memory and advocate for real, lasting change in workplace safety culture.
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