Behind our union’s newly christened Cameron Wilson Children’s Library – a place for members’ children to sit and read a labor story or play games while their parents attend to union business at Council 4 – is a courageous child and his equally determined parents.

At the center of this story is 5-year-old Cameron Wilson, the son of  Jessica Wilson of Local 269 (P2 State Human & Social Services) and her husband Brendan. In 2017, doctors diagnosed Cameron with leukemia after he had just turned 2 and on the same day of his mom’s birthday.

Organized labor’s determination to help essential workers who were made sick on the job by COVID-19 has led to the creation of the Connecticut Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Fund.

During the budget implementer session in mid-June, state legislators finalized the inclusion of $34 million to establish this fund to assist potentially thousands of essential workers who contracted the novel coronavirus on the job through no fault of their own.

Fueled by the efforts of Council 4 members and staff, the state legislature voted to extend limited post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) coverage under workers compensation to correctional employees, EMS workers, public safety dispatchers and health workers.

The bill, SB 660, has been sent to the governor’s desk for his signature.