Labor Chorus summer concert is July 26

June 30, 2016 by

Labor Sing 2016-page-001The Twin Cities Labor Chorus plans to get loud at the library during its annual summer concert July 26, billed as a “night of song, solidarity and rediscovering the power of raising our voices together.”

  • What: The Fourth Annual Twin Cities Labor Sing
  • When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26
  • Where: East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier St.

The concert will include a freewill collection, with donations supporting the work of the non-profit East Side Freedom Library and the AFL-CIO Community Services programs of the St. Paul and Minneapolis regional labor federations.

The Twin Cities Labor Chorus is made of union members, allies and retirees who join together to exercise the power of music and communal singing. The group sings at rallies and picket lines, at labor events, and in support of social justice campaigns throughout the Twin Cities. The chorus receives funding from local unions and the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

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‘Labor Sing’ concert at State Fairgrounds July 28

July 6, 2015 by

web.JoeHill-solidarityThe Twin Cities Labor Chorus will host its annual summer concert and sing-along, “Labor Sing,” at the State Fairgrounds July 28. Local folk musician Emmett Doyle and other special guests will join the performance.

The 7 p.m. concert will take place inside the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion, located at the corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cooper St., near the Snelling Avenue entrance to the fairgrounds.

Admission is free, but the Labor Chorus will take a freewill offering to support its efforts to perform at the 2016 Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival. Donations can be made payable to: Twin Cities Labor Chorus, PO Box 40095, St. Paul, MN 55104-8095.

Founded in 2009, the Labor Chorus has become a staple at area union events, from picket lines to membership parties. The chorus is supported in part by Minnesota unions and the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. For information about joining or booking the chorus, e-mail tclaborchorus@gmail.com.

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Labor Chorus invites new members to open house

December 15, 2014 by
The Twin Cities Labor Chorus performed a benefit concern in the Labor Pavilion on the State Fairgrounds earlier this year.

The Twin Cities Labor Chorus performed a benefit concern in the Labor Pavilion on the State Fairgrounds earlier this year.

Ever thought of joining the Twin Cities Labor Chorus? The new year is a great chance to do it.

New members are invited to check out membership during an open house on Jan. 13, 2015. The chorus is expanding its ranks as it prepares for performances in 2016 at the Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival in California.

The chorus is made of union members, allies and retirees who join together to exercise the power of music and communal singing. The group sings at rallies and picket lines, at labor events, and in support of social justice campaigns throughout the Twin Cities.

The labor chorus is a no-audition group. It is free to join. Members rehearse on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesdays of the month.

The open house takes place Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Carpenters Hall, 730 Olive St., St. Paul.

For more information, contact director Josh Wise at 952-818-5474.

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‘Labor Sing’ to benefit AFL-CIO Community Services

July 11, 2014 by

web.laborchorus-directorThe Twin Cities Labor Chorus will host its annual summer concert and sing-along, “Labor Sing,” at the State Fairgrounds July 29.

The 7 p.m. concert will take place inside the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion, located at the corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cooper St, near the Snelling Avenue entrance to the fairgrounds.

Admission is free, but the Labor Chorus will take a freewill offering to benefit the AFL-CIO Community Services programs of the St. Paul and Minneapolis regional labor federations. Donations can be made payable to: Twin Cities Labor Chorus, PO Box 40095, St. Paul, MN 55104-8095.

Founded in 2009, the Labor Chorus has become a staple at area union events, from picket lines to membership parties. For information about joining or booking the Labor Chorus, e-mail tclaborchorus@gmail.com.

Below, watch the Labor Chorus perform the traditional labor anthem “Solidarity Forever.”

 

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Photos: ‘Labor Sing!’ raises funds for locked-out musicians, striking Laborers

August 2, 2013 by

web.laborchorus-pipesThe Twin Cities Labor Chorus put solidarity into song Tuesday night, hosting “Labor Sing” with Minnesota musician Charlie Maguire at the State Fairgrounds’ Labor Pavilion.

The sing-along did more than raise the spirits of 30-plus people in attendance, however. Donations collected at the concert were split evenly between relief funds supporting locked-out musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra and Laborers on strike at the Cretex concrete plant in Shakopee.

Founded in 2009, the Labor Chorus has become a staple at area union events, from picket lines to membership parties. For information about joining or booking the Labor Chorus, e-mail tclaborchorus@gmail.com.

Check out a gallery of Union Advocate photos from “Labor Sing” below.

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Labor Chorus plans “Labor Sing” July 30

July 9, 2013 by
Members of the Twin Cities Labor Chorus perform at the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion.

Members of the Twin Cities Labor Chorus perform at the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion.

The Twin Cities Labor Chorus and Minnesota musician Charlie McGuire will host “Labor Sing,” a sing-along and fundraiser, July 30 at the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion on the State Fairgrounds.

The Labor Chorus announced the event Monday in a press release:

“It’s an excuse to get together, enjoy a summer evening, and have fun. It’s a chance to belt out your favorite labor songs and chants – and maybe learn a few new ones. And it’s a chance to raise money and show solidarity with locked-out musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra and workers from Laborers Local 563, who are on strike to keep Cretex from wiping out their pensions.”

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. The Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion is at the corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cooper St., near the main Snelling Avenue entrance to the fairgrounds.

Admission is free. Donations can be made payable to: Twin Cities Labor Chorus, PO Box 40095, St. Paul, MN 55104-8095.

Founded in 2009, the Labor Chorus has become a staple at area union events, from picket lines to membership parties. For information about joining or booking the Labor Chorus, e-mail tclaborchorus@gmail.com.

Below, watch the Labor Chorus perform the traditional labor anthem “Solidarity Forever.”

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Bobby Kasper: Thanks for making Labor Day a success

September 20, 2012 by

Thank you to everyone who helped make our participation in the 2012 Labor Day parade at the Minnesota State Fair an enormous success.

We had over 250 participants who marched in our unit this year, and it was the first year we had a float. The Minnesota State Fair capped our unit at 200 marchers, however we had people join us on the other side of the street after the parade began. We doubled the size of our unit from last year. This was the first time we even knew that a cap of participants existed.

It was a warm and humid day, and I know the parade route was a challenge for some of our walkers. I really appreciated everyone’s enthusiasm and help.

Our float carried banners featuring two messages. “We the People – Workers Stand for America” was on one side of the float, and “Invest in America – Bring Our Jobs Home” was on the other. I believe these messages really resonated with the people lining the parade route on the State Fairgrounds. I heard a lot of cheering as we went by. The union musicians, the Twin Cities Labor Chorus and, of course, Uncle Sam were a hit and gave our unit so much character! A lot of time, energy and sweat equity went into the planning and making of the float, as well as the organizing of our marching unit. I have a few ideas for improvement during next year’s parade, and I welcome your input and ideas to build on.

The St. Paul Regional Labor Federation’s float, carrying union musicians.

The amount of people involved was great. I have a long list of people to thank. I am proud to say that when you pull union people together to do a job, it is amazing what you can accomplish. That is what I saw take place and it was an honor to be a part of recognizing and celebrating labor on our day! Special thanks goes to the following:

• The St. Paul Regional Labor Federation staff for helping to put the ideas into action. To Peter Polga-Hecimovich for entertaining us all as Uncle Sam, to Vicki Beebe and Lynne Larkin-Wright for making the float a reality and to Kera Peterson for coordinating the parade check-in process.

• To UFCW for loaning us a trailer for the float.

• To Mary Sansom for the use of her vehicle to pull our float, and to Michael Meyer for driving the float skillfully through the parade route.

• To Perry Schmidt for help with decorating the float and getting needed supplies.

• To the Musicians and Twin Cities Labor Chorus for their patriotic music and songs.

• To all of the retirees and other union members for marching with us!

This event made me proud to be a union member and we sent a strong message that union members built and believe in America too!

– Bobby Kasper is president of the 50,000-member St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.

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Singing for a settlement: Labor Chorus plans benefit for Crystal Sugar workers

July 12, 2012 by

Members of the Twin Cities Labor Chorus perform “songs of protest, resistance, justice, and a vision for a better world.”

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of American Crystal Sugar’s decision to lock out its 1,300 union workers at facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa, the Twin Cities Labor Chorus and the Lex-Ham Community Theater will present an evening of songs and words of action in support of the locked-out workers – and, hopefully, raise money for their hardship fund.

The concert and reading at the Minnesota AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion on the State Fairgrounds, located at the corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cooper Street, will begin at 7 p.m. July 31.

Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Money raised will support locked-out members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, as well as the Labor Chorus and the Lex-Ham Community Theater.

American Crystal Sugar’s union workers have voted three times since the lockout began last year to reject the company’s “final offer.” The company has refused any real negotiations with the union and is proceeding with the process of hiring replacement workers.

The mission of the Twin Cities Labor Chorus is “to empower the labor movement and reclaim protest and social justice music from the forces that would commodify it for profit. Also, to promote singing amongst union members and the public as a tool for building community and magnifying our collective power.”

Click here to view the event page on Facebook.

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