PRESS RELEASE
CONTACTS: CHARLES MERCER (202) 508-3700
GREG KENEFICK (410) 263-7134
BOB COLE (985) 448-3137 OR (504) 912-3628

FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11 A.M. – 8 P.M., SUNDAY 11 A.M. TO 7 P.M.

IT WILL AMAZE, INFORM, ENTERTAIN AND DELIGHT VISITORS OF ALL AGES.  AMERICA @ WORK 2007, THE AFL-CIO UNION-INDUSTRIES SHOW IS THE BEST-EVER EXHIBIT OF UNION-MADE GOODS AND SERVICES, SHOWCASING THE SKILLS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICAN UNION WORKERS - - ARTISTS AND CRAFT WORKERS, FOOD PREPARATION PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC SAFETY SPECIALISTS, AIRLINE PILOTS, ENTERTAINERS, MUSICIANS AND MANY MORE.

THE SHOW FEATURES INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS INCLUDING BRICK LAYING, CAKE DECORATING, HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL WORK, HIGH IRON CONSTRUCTION, PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP ARTISTS ,  ADDING TO THE EXCITEMENT OF THIS THREE DAY SHOW.  ONE OF THE NEWEST EXHIBITS  WILL BE A MODULAR, STEEL,  HURRICANE-PROOF HOME .

“THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT, WITH TERRIFIC LEADERSHIP ASSISTANCE FROM THE CINCINNATI CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, THE OHIO AFL-CIO AND SISTER LABOR COUNCIL FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION,” DECLARED UNION LABEL AND SERVICE TRADES DEPARTMENT PRESIDENT CHARLES MERCER.

THIS UNIQUE SHOW, WHICH BEGAN IN CINCINNATI IN 1937, GOES TO A DIFFERENT CITY EVERY YEAR AND WAS LAST IN CINCINNATTI IN 1990.

WHAT MAKES THIS SHOW UNIQUE IS THAT THE PUBLIC IS INVITED, ADMISSION IS FREE AND OVER $200,000.00 OF QUALITY, AMERICAN UNION-MADE PRODUCTS ARE GIVEN AWAY DURING THIS THREE DAY SHOW.

AMONG THE MANY PRIZES THAT SOME LUCKHY SHOW-GOERS WILL TAKE HOME:

UAW FORD-2007 FORD FOCUS, UAW CHRYSLER-CALIBER, UAW GM-CHEVY COBALT, MACHINISTS AND STEEL WORKERS-HARLEY DAVIDSON, MACHINISTS-JOHN DEERE LAWN TRACTOR, BCTGM-PRODUCTS OF CEREAL AND FOOD STUFFS.

NATIONAL LABOR LEADERS  WILL BE IN TOWN DURING THE SHOW AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INDEPTH INTERVIEWS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LABOR AND THE ECONOMY.

RIBBON CUTTING WILL BE AT 11 A.M. ON FRIDAY, JUNE 15TH AT THE DUKE ENERGY CENTER.  AN ADDITIONAL RELEASE WILL BE SENT WHEN PLANS ARE FINALIZED FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING.

#            #            #

America@Work 2007 to Feature Bricklayers' Competition

Fourteen premier apprentices will compete for the title of “best in region” in the Southern Ohio regional round of the Bricklayers’ annual apprenticeship contest on June 16th.Contestants will have an audience of thousands as they show off their skills for visitors during the second day of the America @ Work 2007 Union-Industries Show.

Contestants will be drawn from a field of 200 apprentices currently training in seven Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees in the Bricklayers’ and Allied Craft Workers (BAC) Southern Ohio Administrative District Council.

Ted Linscott, BAC regional training coordinator, said the competitors first must pass a written exam testing their knowledge of trade math, labor history, code of conduct and general knowledge of the trade. Apprentices with the best scores in the written test move on to the hands-on phase of the contest.

“During the hands-on competition, apprentices will work from a set of drawings to create a new project. Their work will be judged on their skills with the tools of the trade, safety and the overall finish of the project,” Linscott said.

Three contestants will be selected from the Cincinnati round to move up to semi-final competition in Chicago. Winners of the Chicago competition will compete in the national finals in Washington, D.C. in September.

BAC’s Linscott says the union has also issued invitations to local personalities to take part in a “celebrity” bricklaying contest during the Show.

The Bricklayers’ exhibit will be one of more than 200 exciting displays of union workers, their products and services featured during the three-days of the Show. Show visitors will take part in interactive contests, raffles for valuable prizes and see thousands of the best American products—from home appliances, autos, industrial materials, glass ware, sporting goods and much more. For more information regarding America @ Work 2007, go to our website: www.unionindustriesshow.org.

2007 America@Work Comes to Cincinnati
June 15th to the 17th at the Duke Energy Center

Preparations are underway for the 2007 Show set for June 15th to the 17th 2007 at the recently remodeled Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati. Under the title first adopted last year: “America @ Work,” the 2007 Show promises to be one of the best-ever exhibits of unionmade goods and services. This is the fifth time that the Show has visited Cincinnati, site of the first Union-Industries Show in 1938. It returned in 1958, 1980 and 1990.

The Union-Industries Show is an annual expo of the best products and services America has to offer, made and produced by union workers. The Show has run continuously for nearly 70 years, with the exception of the World War II years when operations were suspended.

Coming off a successful event in Cleveland in 2006, the 2007 Show will feature an even larger display of union-made-in America cars and trucks from the big-three auto makers—Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler—as well as thousands of appliances, household products, boats, motorcycles, clothing, consumer goods, and food products. Craft booths feature live demonstrations of skills and crafts by Iron Workers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, IBEW members, Roofers and many others.

Trainers from dozens of apprenticeship programs will be on hand to talk about craft careers. Exhibition booths staffed by union workers will be spread across the Duke Center’s 200,000 square foot hall.

Showgoers are invited to participate in raffles conducted throughout three-days. Typically, those raffles include bags of groceries, electronic products, appliances, automotive products, sporting equipment, autos and a spectacular Harley-Davidson motorcycle. There is no admission charge.

The Cincinnati location provides easy access for Showgoers from nearby communities in Kentucky and Indiana as well as major metropolitan areas throughout Ohio. “We are delighted with the support we are getting from the Cincinnati Central Labor Council and sister labor councils throughout the region,” declared Charles Mercer, President of the Union Label and Service Trades Department. “We look forward to working again with the Ohio AFL-CIO, the same great people who made our Cleveland Show last year such a hit. With their continued assistance, we will make this one of the most successful Shows ever.” Show hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11-7 on Sunday.