Workers Memorial Day Scholarship Essay Contest

Each year on April 28th, we gather together to honor the memory of those workers who have lost their lives because of their job in the course of the past year. During the ceremonies, we speak of the sacrifices made by these workers and of the families left behind and we are inspired to work harder on behalf of all workers.

This year the Connecticut AFL-CIO Health and Safety Committee is offering a scholarship essay contest to inspire high school seniors to think about the importance of workplace health and safety.

In this scholarship essay contest, CT high school seniors are asked to respond in 1,000 words or less to one of the three scenarios below with serious thought, some research and most importantly awareness of the true cost of workplace hazards on the lives of workers. Entries will be judged anonymously on content, originality and clarity of vision.

The essay questions/topics are:

1. Identify any workplace hazards that you or a friend face in part-time work, state how it would affect you or your friend and what would be needed to correct the unsafe conditions.
2. How did workers and their unions achieve worker protections in the past?
3. How important is organized labor to protecting worker safety?

First prize is a scholarship for $1,500; second prize is for $1,000; and third prize is for $500.

Please click here for the full details and the application form.

Email the completed essay and the application to office@ctaflcio.org no later than April 1, 2018.

We are excited about this project that we believe will inspire a greater awareness of the importance of workplace health and safety among young workers and we look forward to the addition of their thoughts to our Worker Memorial Day events.