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Young Writers’ Terrific Essays A Challenge for Judges
Our essay contest participants didn’t make it easy for us when they answered our question, “What’s cool about being in a union family?”
We were impressed by how much our younger readers know about the benefits of being in a union and the many ways unions help families and whole communities, as well as the history of unions and the fight for workers’ rights.
Tough as it was, the CWA News staff picked out a winner and runner-up in each of our three categories: 12 and under, 13 to 15 and 16 to 18. First-place writers will receive a $100 savings bond. Second-place winners get a $50 bond.
The top winners were Ryan Pettis, 12, Adam Januszewski, 13 and Kristen Asmussen, 16. You can read their full essays below.
Ryan lives in Baltimore, Md, with his mom, Cheryl Rhames, a member of CWA Local 2101. Adam lives in East Troy, Wis. His dad, Gerard, is a member of CWA Local 4603 and his mom, Linda, is a retired member of CWA Local 4600. Kristen lives in Riverdale, Md. Her dad, Robert, is a member of CWA Local 2108.
Our youngest runner-up was Kirsten Ranttila, 11, from Warren, Ohio. Her dad, Jeff Waldeck, her uncle Mike Rantilla and her grandfather, Gene Waldeck, are members of IUE-CWA Local 717. Her grandmother, Pat Waldeck is a retired member.
“A union’s fight is for a better way of life for progressive people,” Kirsten wrote. “This is not only a stronger, more educated workforce, but also a stronger area to live in and go to school.”
In our category for 13- to 15-year-olds, we awarded second place to twins Eric and Derik Jemison of Milwaukee, Wis. Eric and Derik are 14 and worked on their essay together. Their dad is William Hall, a member of CWA Local 4603.
The twins said they live in a “happy union home” with a mischievous cat who never gets into trouble because “Dad is Tiger’s union rep.” They said their dad loves his job and the union, and always brings the CWA News home for them to read. “Dad has union everything. Union cups, pens, shirts, stickers, books, cup holders and probably a lot of other stuff we don’t even know about,” Eric and Derik wrote. “He says it’s important to know what the union is doing so you can know what your rights are.”
In the category for 16- to 18-year-olds, our runner-up was Anya Behrends, 17, of Olympia, Wash. Her dad, Rick Behrends, has been a member of CWA Local 7810 for 22 years.
“The union has helped my family countless times,” Anya wrote. “They help negotiate fair working conditions for my dad. This keeps my dad safe and gives him job security.” Citing such diverse benefits as medical coverage and contract language making overtime hours more fair, she said, “If the union wasn’t there protecting my father’s working rights, my life would be completely different.”
Congratulations to our winners and all of our young writers. We hope you’ll all be union members — and leaders — when you enter the workforce.
Union Means Security for Wisconsin Family
By Adam Januszewski, age 13
As I read the topic, “What the Union Means to My Family,” one word came to mind: security. Security is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as freedom from worry. Because the union fights for workers’ rights, it allows its members to have this sense of security. This is especially true for my family.
Both my mother and father belonged to CWA at one period in their lives. My mother, Linda Januszewski, was a member for over 20 years until her retirement when I was 2 years old. My father, Gerard Januszewski, is a current member and has been since 1979.
In all this time, my parents have not had to worry about not having the financial resources necessary to afford a nice home, clothing and food because of the benefits fought for and won by the union. There has been no fear of being unjustly forced to give up a job, because the CWA is there to back a member up and defend his or her rights.
When I was born two months premature and weighed only two and a half pounds, my parents had many worries concerning my health. I had to stay in the hospital for two months. This resulted in very high hospital bills. My parents did not have to worry about these bills because of the excellent insurance, another benefit bargained for by CWA. Out of $35,000 in bills, my parents paid only $300.
The CWA also provides entertainment enjoyed by my family: the annual CWA Christmas party. Over the past few years, the party has become a tradition for us. This in itself is a form of security. Going together to watch the movie provided by the union gives a time of family bonding during the hectic Christmas season. My parents and I always enjoy watching a family film and eating popcorn at nine o’clock in the morning.
At 13 years of age, I have benefited from the security provided by the union my entire life. I am certain I will enjoy many benefits yet to come, because I am a member of a union family.
"I Never Realized the Sacrifice My Mom Was Making"
By Ryan Pettis, age 12
My mom works for Verizon and is a member of CWA Local 2101. This summer I experienced my first strike with my mom. She showed me her CWA News and I saw this contest. So I am writing to tell you “What the Union Means to My Family.”
The union means that my mom, a single mom, can earn enough money to send me to a private school. I never realized the sacrifice my mom was making until this summer.
My mom went on strike with many other workers to protect her job and the jobs of others. She explained to me that the strike was not only about pay, but working conditions, job security and workers’ benefits.
She had strike duty very early in the morning, 6 a.m. She took me and our dog, Gerti, along. I even wore a picket sign. I didn’t mind getting up early because I felt she was doing the right thing. I even told her I understand that sometimes you have to make sacrifices now to benefit yourself later. I could see the surprise in her eyes when I said that because I know she thought I was too young to understand what was going on.
I really understood what the union meant to me and my family when my mom had to work a part-time job to keep things going. Even though my mom knew the strike was coming, she was not able to save as much money as she wanted. She took a part-time job that didn’t pay very much money and was very hard physical work. My mom has a condition called fibromyalgia that makes her very tired. I didn’t know she had the condition at that time but I know now that it was very hard for her to do that job when she was already so tired.
One day my mom was feeling really sad because she didn’t know when the strike was going to end. She didn’t like the part-time job she had to work. I heard her in her room crying and I felt really sad. I wanted to make her feel better so I decorated her room with smiley faces. My mom loves smiley faces so she was really surprised when she came home from work that day.
I know now that the union means a lot to my family. Because of my mom’s union job, we live a pretty good life. I am thankful for the union but most of all I am thankful for my “UNION MOM,” Cheryl Rhames.
CWA Shares Family’s Values: "Equality, Courage, Fairness, Respect"
By Kristen Asmussen, age 16
Belonging to a union family brings about a sense of security, thankfulness and pride in my family. My dad has been a mechanic for Bell Atlantic for most of his life and consequently belongs to and served on the board of CWA Local 2108. At union picnics, meetings or rallies, my family and I were given the opportunity to meet with many people who held the same ideals as ourselves: equality, courage, fairness and respect.
Recently, my dad was in a car wreck, in which his neck was severely damaged. Two months after the accident, he underwent extensive surgery in which three discs were removed from his neck and replaced with new ones and a steel plate. Thankfully, my father survived this surgery with no paralysis. My father is now recovering and has not been to work since his accident.
Because my dad belongs to a union, he is still given a paycheck every Friday, despite the fact that he can’t work. If my dad did not belong to a union that cared about his rights as a worker, he would probably have been fired for not working. Without a union to protect my dad from the “big bad corporation” when he most needs protection, I would probably not be getting an excellent education at a private school, and my family and I would not have the comforts we have today. My dad’s union has ensured that he continues to be paid, so he can care for himself and his family.
As I approach 17 and will be rapidly applying for jobs in which I know nothing of the employer, I will remember my union roots. I have the advantage of knowing that I have workers’ rights and the courage to stand up for them. The union has helped give my family and me security in an insecure world; justice in a world filled with injustices; hope in a world of hopelessness, and for that I am grateful.
We were impressed by how much our younger readers know about the benefits of being in a union and the many ways unions help families and whole communities, as well as the history of unions and the fight for workers’ rights.
Tough as it was, the CWA News staff picked out a winner and runner-up in each of our three categories: 12 and under, 13 to 15 and 16 to 18. First-place writers will receive a $100 savings bond. Second-place winners get a $50 bond.
The top winners were Ryan Pettis, 12, Adam Januszewski, 13 and Kristen Asmussen, 16. You can read their full essays below.
Ryan lives in Baltimore, Md, with his mom, Cheryl Rhames, a member of CWA Local 2101. Adam lives in East Troy, Wis. His dad, Gerard, is a member of CWA Local 4603 and his mom, Linda, is a retired member of CWA Local 4600. Kristen lives in Riverdale, Md. Her dad, Robert, is a member of CWA Local 2108.
Our youngest runner-up was Kirsten Ranttila, 11, from Warren, Ohio. Her dad, Jeff Waldeck, her uncle Mike Rantilla and her grandfather, Gene Waldeck, are members of IUE-CWA Local 717. Her grandmother, Pat Waldeck is a retired member.
“A union’s fight is for a better way of life for progressive people,” Kirsten wrote. “This is not only a stronger, more educated workforce, but also a stronger area to live in and go to school.”
In our category for 13- to 15-year-olds, we awarded second place to twins Eric and Derik Jemison of Milwaukee, Wis. Eric and Derik are 14 and worked on their essay together. Their dad is William Hall, a member of CWA Local 4603.
The twins said they live in a “happy union home” with a mischievous cat who never gets into trouble because “Dad is Tiger’s union rep.” They said their dad loves his job and the union, and always brings the CWA News home for them to read. “Dad has union everything. Union cups, pens, shirts, stickers, books, cup holders and probably a lot of other stuff we don’t even know about,” Eric and Derik wrote. “He says it’s important to know what the union is doing so you can know what your rights are.”
In the category for 16- to 18-year-olds, our runner-up was Anya Behrends, 17, of Olympia, Wash. Her dad, Rick Behrends, has been a member of CWA Local 7810 for 22 years.
“The union has helped my family countless times,” Anya wrote. “They help negotiate fair working conditions for my dad. This keeps my dad safe and gives him job security.” Citing such diverse benefits as medical coverage and contract language making overtime hours more fair, she said, “If the union wasn’t there protecting my father’s working rights, my life would be completely different.”
Congratulations to our winners and all of our young writers. We hope you’ll all be union members — and leaders — when you enter the workforce.
Union Means Security for Wisconsin Family
By Adam Januszewski, age 13
As I read the topic, “What the Union Means to My Family,” one word came to mind: security. Security is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as freedom from worry. Because the union fights for workers’ rights, it allows its members to have this sense of security. This is especially true for my family.
Both my mother and father belonged to CWA at one period in their lives. My mother, Linda Januszewski, was a member for over 20 years until her retirement when I was 2 years old. My father, Gerard Januszewski, is a current member and has been since 1979.
In all this time, my parents have not had to worry about not having the financial resources necessary to afford a nice home, clothing and food because of the benefits fought for and won by the union. There has been no fear of being unjustly forced to give up a job, because the CWA is there to back a member up and defend his or her rights.
When I was born two months premature and weighed only two and a half pounds, my parents had many worries concerning my health. I had to stay in the hospital for two months. This resulted in very high hospital bills. My parents did not have to worry about these bills because of the excellent insurance, another benefit bargained for by CWA. Out of $35,000 in bills, my parents paid only $300.
The CWA also provides entertainment enjoyed by my family: the annual CWA Christmas party. Over the past few years, the party has become a tradition for us. This in itself is a form of security. Going together to watch the movie provided by the union gives a time of family bonding during the hectic Christmas season. My parents and I always enjoy watching a family film and eating popcorn at nine o’clock in the morning.
At 13 years of age, I have benefited from the security provided by the union my entire life. I am certain I will enjoy many benefits yet to come, because I am a member of a union family.
"I Never Realized the Sacrifice My Mom Was Making"
By Ryan Pettis, age 12
My mom works for Verizon and is a member of CWA Local 2101. This summer I experienced my first strike with my mom. She showed me her CWA News and I saw this contest. So I am writing to tell you “What the Union Means to My Family.”
The union means that my mom, a single mom, can earn enough money to send me to a private school. I never realized the sacrifice my mom was making until this summer.
My mom went on strike with many other workers to protect her job and the jobs of others. She explained to me that the strike was not only about pay, but working conditions, job security and workers’ benefits.
She had strike duty very early in the morning, 6 a.m. She took me and our dog, Gerti, along. I even wore a picket sign. I didn’t mind getting up early because I felt she was doing the right thing. I even told her I understand that sometimes you have to make sacrifices now to benefit yourself later. I could see the surprise in her eyes when I said that because I know she thought I was too young to understand what was going on.
I really understood what the union meant to me and my family when my mom had to work a part-time job to keep things going. Even though my mom knew the strike was coming, she was not able to save as much money as she wanted. She took a part-time job that didn’t pay very much money and was very hard physical work. My mom has a condition called fibromyalgia that makes her very tired. I didn’t know she had the condition at that time but I know now that it was very hard for her to do that job when she was already so tired.
One day my mom was feeling really sad because she didn’t know when the strike was going to end. She didn’t like the part-time job she had to work. I heard her in her room crying and I felt really sad. I wanted to make her feel better so I decorated her room with smiley faces. My mom loves smiley faces so she was really surprised when she came home from work that day.
I know now that the union means a lot to my family. Because of my mom’s union job, we live a pretty good life. I am thankful for the union but most of all I am thankful for my “UNION MOM,” Cheryl Rhames.
CWA Shares Family’s Values: "Equality, Courage, Fairness, Respect"
By Kristen Asmussen, age 16
Belonging to a union family brings about a sense of security, thankfulness and pride in my family. My dad has been a mechanic for Bell Atlantic for most of his life and consequently belongs to and served on the board of CWA Local 2108. At union picnics, meetings or rallies, my family and I were given the opportunity to meet with many people who held the same ideals as ourselves: equality, courage, fairness and respect.
Recently, my dad was in a car wreck, in which his neck was severely damaged. Two months after the accident, he underwent extensive surgery in which three discs were removed from his neck and replaced with new ones and a steel plate. Thankfully, my father survived this surgery with no paralysis. My father is now recovering and has not been to work since his accident.
Because my dad belongs to a union, he is still given a paycheck every Friday, despite the fact that he can’t work. If my dad did not belong to a union that cared about his rights as a worker, he would probably have been fired for not working. Without a union to protect my dad from the “big bad corporation” when he most needs protection, I would probably not be getting an excellent education at a private school, and my family and I would not have the comforts we have today. My dad’s union has ensured that he continues to be paid, so he can care for himself and his family.
As I approach 17 and will be rapidly applying for jobs in which I know nothing of the employer, I will remember my union roots. I have the advantage of knowing that I have workers’ rights and the courage to stand up for them. The union has helped give my family and me security in an insecure world; justice in a world filled with injustices; hope in a world of hopelessness, and for that I am grateful.