Music, rides, food will highlight Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park

PORTLAND, OR -- The largest Labor Day picnic in Oregon will take on an entirely different look this year as it moves to a new location at Oaks Park.

The day still will be filled with good music, food, bingo and display booths but, now, the rides offered at the southeast Portland amusement park will be an added attraction, said Ron Fortune, secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC).

Gates open at 10 a.m. and the picnic will run until 5 p.m.

The day will be filled with music, highlighted by the Oregon Symphony Players at noon. Also appearing on stage will be the Jim Brown Orchestra, a '30s and '40s jazz-styling band; Carol Rossio and the Rossio Rhythm, a pop, jazz world beat band; General Strike and the Solidarity Singers will perform labor songs; the Susan LeMaster Band will play a variety of jazz and rock, and the day will be topped off with Ellen White and Reflex Blue. White's new compact disc is getting rave reviews from music critics and Rossio has just released a new CD that was partially recorded in Paris. She sings in English and French.

"I think it's going to be one of the most exciting years we've ever had musically at the Labor Day picnic," said Calvin Walker of Musicians Local 99, who arranged the lineup. All the musicians are members of the union and are donating their time to the event.

Oaks Park offers free parking and entry. Sam Track also offers a ride from OMSI's parking lot to the amusement park located off the Sellwood Bridge at Southeast Spokane Street.

The labor council has negotiated a special rate of $6.25 for a deluxe ride bracelet. The bracelet doesn't include the roller coaster, bumper cars or arcade games. The indoor roller skating rink also will be open. Cost is $3.75 for three hours.

Scrip for hot dogs, cookies, beer and pop will be sold for 25 cents each. Local unions can make arrangements to buy scrip and ride bracelets in advance. NOLC is selling scrip and Oaks Park is handling all bracelet sales.

Anyone who can help cook and/or serve food during the day should contact Barbara Byrd at 725-3295.

Several display booths will show off union-made products and services. MasterPrint of Portland will be giving away free Oaks Park ride bracelets to the first 300 kids with the coupon featured on Page 28 of this issue of the Northwest Labor Press. Saturn plans a giveaway and the Oregon Tradeswomen will hold a nail "pound-off" contest.

Statewide politicians -- with the exception of Labor Commissioner Jack Roberts -- and Oregon's congressional delegation have been invited to attend. The Executive Board of NOLC voted unanimously "not to invite" Roberts because of his activity at Salem to circumvent the state's new minimum wage law.

Short political speeches can be heard starting at noon.

NOLC isn't the only group hosting a picnic on Labor Day.

• The Clatsop County Labor Council and Astoria Longshore Local 50 will gather at Cullaby Lake from noon until dusk. The lake is located between Gearhart and Warrenton on Highway 101.

• The Lane County Labor Council will have a picnic at Jasper Park starting at noon.

• The Southwestern Oregon Central Labor Council will gather at Sturdivant Park in Coquille from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

• The Umatilla-Morrow Labor Council is planning a picnic at Stillman Park in Pendleton from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.