The Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly (AFL-CIO) and the McLean County Museum of History are hosting Trades & Labor Fest 2022 on the Museum Square in downtown Bloomington, 10 a.m.—1 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.
The event will feature multiple local unions, businesses and non-profit organizations who will have hands-on opportunities to display their craft skills. The organizations will all offer a hands-on experience displaying their specialty, that all can participate in.
“This is a chance to display our varied & diverse union craft and the skills in our community,” said Trades & Labor President Adam Heenan. “Our young people especially need exposure to well-paying jobs and union apprenticeship opportunities that can help build a sustainable quality of life with decent pay and benefits for which ancestors in our movement have fought for over 150 years. In this way we celebrate the past, present, and future of work in McLean County.”
“The Museum is thrilled to once again partner with local trades and unions, businesses, and organizations to educate the public about the various types of industries in McLean County,” said Candace Summers, Director of Community Education at the McLean County Museum of History. “This event also gives us the opportunity to help our community learn about individual workers, jobs and occupations, and businesses that helped build and shape McLean County throughout our almost 200 year history!”
Besides the hands-on skills demonstrations, labor music and perhaps a little theater will be performed. All events are free and open to the public. The Museum’s “Working for Living” exhibit will be open along with other exhibits.
Two events converge around the April 30 date. April 28 is the AFL-CIO’s “Workers’ Memorial Day,” honoring those who lost their lives on the job and calling for renewed job site safety. Local unions traditionally gather on that day and read over 400 names of McLean County residents who died from job site accidents or occupational exposures. That commemorative reading will take place at 8 a.m. on April 30 on the east steps of the Museum of History on Main Street. The event is also saluting International Workers’ Day.
Local musicians will share labor music throughout the day.
For a complete list of participating local businesses, organizations, trades and labor unions, plus other updates, please visit www.mchistory.org.