Each year during Workers’ Memorial Day ceremonies on April 28, workers, legislators, members of organized labor unions, worker advocates and others gather to honor the memory of those workers who have lost their lives because of workplace injuries or illnesses. The ceremonies highlight the sacrifices made by these workers and of the families left behind and inspire us all to work harder on behalf of the welfare of all workers.
This year, the Connecticut AFL-CIO Health and Safety Committee, as part of its efforts to “mourn the dead but fight like hell for the living,” is offering a scholarship essay contest to inspire high school seniors to think about the importance of workplace health and safety, of the consequences that arise when workers are forced to toil in unsafe working conditions and of the role that organized labor has played in protecting workers, both in the past and present.
In this year’s scholarship essay contest, Connecticut high school seniors are asked to respond in 1,000 words or less to ONE of the three questions below with serious thought, some research (with cited sources), and, most importantly, awareness of the true cost of workplace hazards on the lives of workers.
1st Prize is $1,500
2nd Prize is $1,000
3rd Prize is $500
All entries will be judged anonymously on content, originality and clarity of vision. The winners of this contest will be asked to share a portion of their essay during our 2023 Workers’ Memorial Day event on Friday, April 28, 2023, at noon at the Bushnell Park Workers Memorial.
In 1,000 words or less please respond to ONE of the following scenarios:
1) Why do you think that there is a resurgence of union organizing within some worker groups such as Starbucks and Amazon employees? What health and safety concerns do you think that workers from these settings may have?
2) If you took a summer job on a construction site, in a supermarket or another job site, what sorts of things would you be on the lookout for to make you feel confident that you would come home safely from work each day? If you discovered things that you thought might be injurious, what would you do? Discuss with co-workers, supervisors? Post on social media? Contact OSHA? Explain your reasoning.
3) Do you think that safety and health at work is a concern to young workers who are high school, trade school or college students? If not, why? Should it be? Why?
This essay contest is open to all Connecticut high school seniors. Please email the completed essay and application to [email protected] or send to:
ConnectiCOSH
683 North Mountain Road
Newington, CT 06111
ATTN: Pamela Puchalski
The completed essay and application (see link below) must be received by April 1, 2023.
