Ground Broken for Workers' Memorial

Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT Workers' Memorial Groundbreaking - April 28, 2009

"The memorial is dedicated to the working men and women of this state who are injured or killed on the job," said John Olsen, President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. "It is our hope that the memorial will give comfort to those who mourn for their loved ones and will mark our commitment to fighting to improve health and safety laws to protect workers."

  
Nationally, four million workers were injured and 5,488 workers died on the job in 2007 according to a new report by the national AFL-CIO titled "Death on the Job". In Connecticut, 38 workers died and 56,900 were injured.

"The Occupational Safety and Health Act saves workers' lives, but after eight years of cuts and rollbacks under the Bush Administration, our health and safety is in serious danger," said Michael Petosa, chair of the union federation's Health and Safety Committee. "We are here today to call for strengthening the job safety laws and protections."

The funds for the memorial were raised over the past decade by workers. The Connecticut AFL-CIO worked in collaboration with Bushnell Foundation board member Tyler Smith, a principle of Smith Edwards Architects, on the concept and initial drawings for the memorial. The Hartford City Council recently voted to approve the establishment of the memorial in the park which will be located in a prominent location near the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial on Trinity Street.