35th Annual Labor Day Picnic: Monday, 9/3: Why a Union? Why a Living Wage?

(ITHACA) The Tompkins County Workers’ Center, the Midstate Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO and Tompkins/Cortland Labor Committee, will hold the 35th Annual Labor Day Picnic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, September 3rd in Ithaca’s Stewart Park Main Pavilion. This year’s Picnic theme will be: ‘Why a Union? Why a Living Wage?’ [Sign up on Facebook here] Says Jason David, President the the United Auto Workers Local 2300: “It is Labor and Unions that Made America Great, and it will be the same that keeps America great. The Labor Day picnic is when we come together in Solidarity to remind ourselves of this fact.”

The picnic is free and everyone is invited. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share and to enjoy the free burgers (meat and veggie), hot dogs, ice cream and beverages. [Please consider bringing your own plates, silverware, cups and bowls in the spirit of creating as little waste as possible.] Featured music will be ‘Alexander Bradshaw [of the Ithaca Bottom Boys, Newman Brothers] and the Labor Day Specials will be leading a band of miscreants in boot stomping, laboriously topical tunes, intertwined with his new original work in two high energy sets, special just for you!

The annual awards have become a highlight of the Labor Day Picnic over the years, and this year will be no different. The Mother Jones and Joe Hill awards are presented to people for their activism, organizing, and sacrifice at work. The Friend of Labor award is presented to a member of the community who has spoken out publicly or taken action in support of working people. The notorious Goat of Labor goes to an especially egregious offender of workers’ rights and/or the value of labor to our common good.

Human service agencies, Living Wage Employers, and other organizations are welcome to have organizing tables at the event. To register, contact, contact the Workers’ Center at TCWRH@tcworkerscenter.org, 607-269-0409, or via the website, www.TCWorkersCenter.org