This article originally appeared on ABC7 KRCR.
By Aaron Spurlock, Mike Mangas

ANDERSON, Calif. — COVID-19 closed it down for a year but the Labor Day Picnic was back in Anderson River Park on Monday for the thirty-fifth time.

The band was back together, and so were union members and their families to enjoy the music, conversation, and barbequed hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings.

Representing 30 labor organizations and 8,200 members we asked the President of the 5 Counties Central Labor Council Ray Thomas about how unions are trying to keep up with the demand for workers.

“It’s difficult because we’re either filling jobs with journeymen, or we’re trying to fill as many jobs as we can contractually with apprentices as well,” Thomas said. “The building trades are working on pre-apprentice training through Shasta Builds, but at the end of the day, but there are not enough workers to go around.”

This year they invited anyone who was displaced by wildfires in recent years to come and have a meal on them.

Lori Stillie, a Carr Fire survivor said, “It’s great to be recognized for going through the loss that you go through with fire and the hardship, and it means a lot. It’s great that the 5 Counties Labor and the Labor Day Picnic are offering this to people because it feels great to get that meal.”

Council President, Emeritus Dwight Evans was honored for his part in founding the annual picnic and so was the Redding Rancheria for its work in vaccinating thousands of people.