Click here for information on Labor Day 2007.

LABOR DAY 2008
Hard Labor: FAM Organizer,
Replacement Acts Save Holiday Bash

Labor Day is supposed to be a day of rest, but there's no rest for an organizer trying to save a concert.

That was Food AND Medicine Development Director Brent Hall's task this year when two of the four bands scheduled to perform at the organization's Labor Day Solidarity Bash dropped out the day of the event (in both cases, due to family emergencies).

Brent worked the phones and his connections like a pro, finding replacements who showed up with an hour's notice, guitar in hand, and who along with the remaining scheduled performers delighted the crowd of over 150 gathered in warm dry weather under light blue skies before the outdoor stage of the Solidarity Center.

An impressive line of  silver warming dishes (courtesy of the Sea Dog restaurant and FAM volunteer Sergio Vittorio) stood on tables inside the Center, holding the event's buffet dinner contributed by a dozen or more volunteers.

In the spirit of the holiday, all of the scheduled performing groups included members of unions, ranging from the American Postal Workers (APWU), Local 536, to UNITE HERE, Local 486. The Eastern Maine Labor Council--owner of the Solidarity Center--co-sponsored the event.

The musicians who filled in on short notice were Blaire Siefken, a folk singer/songwriter who was relaxing at her home outside Belfast when the call came to rush to Brewer; and the members of the hastily-assembled trio Toast: Ed Blush (a once and future International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers [IBEW] member), Kenny Bollen, and Frank Smith.

The scheduled bands that were able to show up were Deja Blue--fronted by MSEA-SEIU member Danny "Dan-O" Ober--and Spare Time, home of two APWU members: Don Martin and Gary Graham. Scott Cuddy (IBEW 1253) opened the festivities and performed when requested as organizers continued to shuffle the lineup throughout the evening.

The Working Chorus contributed a rousing rendition of "We Shall Not Be Moved" as well as two prop-assisted parody songs. Steel Rail Express--one of the bands unable to perform--still sent the sound and light equipment, and the technicians to run them, that made the concert possible.

Scores of signatures were collected on petitions in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), the proposed federal law that would be so effective in allowing workers to form unions that low-wage employers have spent a fortune this spring and summer bombarding local TV viewers with ads attacking it and one of its sponsors, Senate candidate Tom Allen.

Buckets collected donations for the Solidarity Harvest, FAM's annual gift of Thanksgiving dinner to the families of laid-off workers in Eastern Maine. 

Immediately prior to the concert, leaders of the local faith community involved in forming an Eastern Maine labor-religious alliance spoke at a news conference in support of EFCA.

Little children slid down embankments, chased a beach ball across the grounds, and played with a tiny black Lab puppy as the bands played a loud mixture of rock and blues. As the horizon above the Penobscot River turned orange and evening fell, a dozen dancers gyrated before the stage to Deja Blue's driving beat.

The other members of Spare Time are Russ Lancaster, Travis Smith and Scott Wilson. Ed Blush (filling in for Jimmy Rorden), Tony Nedick and Toby Williams rounded out Deja Blue.  The Barncats were the other scheduled band that couldn't come.

Bangor Daily News article: Labor Day traditions honored in Brewer