Political candidates show up in force at Labor Day Picnic

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Hundreds of union workers came together in lexington for the fifth annual labor day picnic.

The labor day picnic in Lexington is a hot stop for candidates on both sides of the isle looking to show they’re pro-union.

“Workers should have the right to organize and to basically speak up for themselves. I mean that’s a basic human right,” said Jacqueline Coleman, a democrat running as Andy Beshear’s lieutenant governor.

“And really the working class is what’s keeping our country going,” said R. Travis Brenda, (R) candidate, state representative, District 71.

In the last year Kentucky has seen a shift away from unions with the passage of the Right to Work law and the pension reform many unions were against.

“All those things are just whittling away at workers rights and we as workers have to fight for our rights,” said Stephanie Winkler, president of the Kentucky Education Association.

Still many here are divided as to whether this picnic is the place to talk politics.

“I try to leave the politics out of it just because I don’t feel comfortable talking about politics when it comes to something like this,” said Dustin Parky, a union member.

“I do. It gives the chances for everyone to voice their opinion and get to talk to the people running,” said Andi Biggerstaff, family of a union member.

It seems, if Labor Day is indeed the unofficial beginning of fall, then in an election year many at the picnic understand politics just comes with the territory.