Hundreds of people gathered at the Madison Labor Temple yesterday to join this year’s LaborFest. Hosted by the South Central Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, the festival celebrates workers and their contribution to society.
And some attendees noted that yesterday’s crowd was bigger — and younger — than usual, with folks of all ages enjoying live music, food, and even a bouncy house.
But LaborFest is more than just a party — it’s also a venue for local unions to spread the word about workers’ rights and to call for more collective action.
Wisconsin’s job economy is strong, according to the latest annual labor report from a nonpartisan think tank based at UW-Madison. The report finds that wages are on the rise and the state’s unemployment rate is lower than the national average.
But Wisconsin is also trailing its neighbors, and the rest of the nation, when it comes to union membership.
Labor Radio’s Jeannine Ramsey headed to LaborFest yesterday and heard from folks on the ground.
Image courtesy: Chali Pittman / WORT News.
