The SIU and its affiliated union, the United Industrial Workers (UIW), participated in the annual AFL-CIO Union Industries Show May 2-5 in Pittsburgh. More than 200,000 visitors turned out for the free-admission event, which took place at the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The show is produced by the AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department, in collaboration with area unions, central labor councils, state labor federations and union-contracted employers. This year’s theme was “The American Dream, Union-Made.”
Recapping the event, the Union Label and Service Trades Department noted in a statement, “The show appealed to all age groups: retirees, young families, teens and tots. Visitors saw the latest in American-made autos, motorcycles, recreation vehicles, hardware, work clothes, sporting goods, baked goods and groceries. Skilled union members demonstrated their trades and talents—and offered information on the training that prepared them for good union jobs and the pay and benefits that those jobs provide.”
Charles Mercer, president of the department, described the show as “an educational and entertaining experience for the whole family. The exhibits, demonstrations and prizes offer something for everyone.”
Billed as the largest exhibition of union workers’ skills and services, the show featured millions of dollars worth of union-made, American-made products. Mercer pointed out that in recent years the show also has evolved into an educational forum to provide participating unions the opportunity to showcase the skills and expertise of their members and the value they add to their communities and lend to the nation.
UIW-contracted companies that participated in the 2003 show included Franklin International, Bron Shoe, and Worthington Foods, each of Columbus, Ohio; Church & Dwight of London, Ohio; A&E Products Group of Ringtown, Pa.; Sealy Mattress of Williamsport, Md.; and Southern California-based Cott Beverages USA (San Bernardino), Chicken of the Sea (Terminal Island), La Victoria (Chino), Juanita’s Foods (Wilmington) and the Queen Mary (Long Beach). Information on the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education’s unlicensed apprentice program also was available at the booth shared by the SIU and UIW.
This was the first major event at the 330,000 square-foot convention center, but the third time that Pittsburgh has hosted the Union Industries Show. The show first was conducted in 1938. It skipped some of the World War II years, but restarted in 1948 in Milwaukee and has run every year since. Other show visits to Pittsburgh were in 1965 and 1982.
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