Food, fun, fellowship on tap for Labor Day

What better way to celebrate Labor Day than to enjoy some food, fun and fellowship with other union families? Several AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils around Washington State are planning picnics and other events on Monday, Sept. 3. All of these family-oriented events are free and open to the public, but union members and their families are particularly urged to participate.

CASTLE ROCK — The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council hosts its annual Labor Day Potluck Picnic from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3 at the Toutle River RV Resort, 150 Happy Trails in Castle Rock (Exit 52 off I-5). Hamburgers and hot dogs provided. Bring a dish to share, meet new friends and build relationships. Click for more info, or email cow.wah.clc@gmail.com.

FERNDALE — The Northwest Washington Central Labor Council hosts its annual Labor Day Picnic from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3 at the Totem Terrace by the Alcoa Intalco Works. Click for more info, or call 360-676-0099.

KENNEWICK — The Southeast Washington Central Labor Council will host its 1st Annual Labor Day Picnic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3 at Columbia Park’s Main Stage in Kennewick. Open to the public, there will be free T-shirts for the first 500 and a BBQ lunch at this non-alcoholic family event. Click for more info.

SEATTLE — The M.L. King County Labor Council’s Annual Labor Day Picnic will be Monday, Sept. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Shelters 1, 2 and 3 of Lower Woodland Park, N. 50th & Woodland Park Ave. N. in Seattle. For info, call 206-441-8510.

TACOMA — The Ralph Chaplin Labor Day Memorial Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 3 at the gravesite of the labor activist/poet (who wrote the anthem “Solidarity Forever”) at Calvary Cemetery, 5212 70th St. West in Tacoma. The event is hosted by the Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Call 253-473-3810 for more info.

TUMWATER — The annual Labor Day Picnic hosted by the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Counties Labor Council will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3 at Tumwater Falls Park (just off I-5 behind the Falls Terrace Restaurant). Bring the family! Click for more info or call 360-520-9575.

Meanwhile, the person who’s flipping burgers and making sure there are enough hot dogs to go around at these Labor Day barbecues deserves a little extra thanks, don’t you think?

AFL-CIO Now reports that unions and working families will honor the holiday that celebrates the hard work that has made America strong by doing something special this year: recognizing people for their work. The AFL-CIO is launching a new online application, just in time to reclaim Labor Day as a day to recognize that everyone’s work matters. On the new app, at www.aflcio.org/thankyou, participants can send thank you cards and videos through Facebook and e-mail to friends and others whose work they depend on. Learn more.