The AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department reports that more than 300,000 visitors saw “America at Its Best” during the annual AFL-CIO Union-Industries Show. This year’s event took place at the America’s Center in St. Louis, April 23-26.
The show featured the latest in union-made-in-the-USA autos and accessories, motorcycles, hardware, clothing, sporting goods, furniture, baked goods and groceries, appliances and house wares spread across an area equal to four football fields.
In a news release, the department (which produces the show) noted, “Interspersed with product displays were exhibits by skilled craft workers demonstrating everything from ornate sheet metal work to bricklaying, carpentry, decorative plastering, iron work and plumbing while offering information on how to get training to prepare for good union jobs and the pay and benefits those jobs provide.”
The SIU and its affiliated United Industrial Workers (UIW) participated in the show.
“The story behind every product you see here is the story of what makes our country great,” noted AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka said.
The show hosted some 500 local schoolchildren in an outreach to the St. Louis-area school system.
“The theme – America at Its Best – was a great description of the content and the purpose of the show. Hard work and dedication by union leaders from St. Louis and throughout the state helped make this show one of the best we've ever had,” declared Charles Mercer, president of the AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department that produces the Show.
Next year’s show is scheduled to take place in Portland, Ore. April 29-May 2.
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