The Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council and the Catawba Labor Council held the 1st Annual Carolinas Kickball Game on Saturday, June 4th, at Park Road Park in Charlotte, NC.
Both Central Labor Councils have fairly new executive boards and are affiliated with different state labor federations and, until a few months ago, were basically unaware that they had a labor council neighbor so close by. Separated only by a state line and a half-hour drive, it made sense for these two councils to come together and begin building a strong relationship that fosters union solidarity, cooperation which has helped both labor councils increase turnout at political events and increase support for local organizing drives.
But anytime you have North Carolinians and South Carolinians getting together, the old rivalry over which Carolina is finer can only lay dormant so long. This rivalry came to a head in the form of a friendly game of kickball between the two labor councils, preceded with strong trash talk from both sides.
The teams met this last Saturday with a great turn out of players and spectators on both sides, but only one team could walk away with the trophy. After six nail-bitingly close innings, the Catawba Labor Council came out of left field with seven runs in the seventh, securing the contest 12 to 5.
“The victory was fun,” said James Dukes, President of the Catawba Labor Council. "But when we work together we are all the winners."
The rematch will be held June 4, 2023.
Check out and share photos from the 1st Annual Carolinas Kickball Game here and here.