CT AFL-CIO MEMORIAL - "MOURN FOR THE DEAD-FIGHT FOR THE LIVING"

[Photo Above: After a 20 year struggle by the Connecticut AFL-CIO there is now a permanent workers memorial in Hartford's Bushnell Park dedicated to all workers who where injured or lost their lives while at their work site. The inscription is a quote from Mother Jones that reads, "Mourn for the Dead - Fight for the Living."] Click on photo for full screen.

[Photo Above: John Olsen, President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO lead the 20 year struggle to get the Worker's Memorial. He is speaking on the steps of the State Capitol to the crowd that gathered to commemorate the memorial on April 28th, Workers Memorial Day.]

The Connecticut AFL-CIO, lead by John Olson, president, dedicated the Workers Memorial in Hartford's Bushnell park on April 28th, 2010, which is international Workers Memorial Day.

Workers Memorial Day was initiated by the AFL-CIO after the collapse of the Connecticut L'Ambiance Plaza and the devastating loss of workers' lives. More than 100 events are planned throughout the world to recognize and remember workers injured or killed on the job.

Nationally 5,071 workers died on the job and 3.7 million were injured in 2008 according to the most recent figures in the new report by the AFL-CIO. It took 20 years to get the memorial because of objections to the location on state capitol grounds or in Bushnell Park. The persistence of the Connecticut AFL-CIO won that struggle. Everyone is encouraged to stop by, view the memorial and recommit themselves to fight for worker safety.

[Other Photos] [Photo Above: The AFL-CIO Workers Memorial Committee at the site of the memorial.]

[Photo Above: State Senator Edith Prague and House Majority Leader Chris Donovan, at mic, pay their respects to injured and workers who lost their lives and pledge to continue to fight for workers safety.]

[Striking District 1199 workers joined the march to the memorial from the state capitol to Bushnell Park. You can join their picket line anytime from 6AM to 12 Midnight any day. Strike locations at in Derby, Ansonia, Winsted and Hartford. See the April 24 1199 strike article below for details.]

Posted by: Tom Connolly