Labor Council president speaks out about Labor Day Parade - WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, Sports

WAUSAU (WAOW) --  Marathon County Labor Council President Randy Radtke spoke out on Sunday about the council's choice to exclude Republicans from the Labor Day Parade in Wausau.

The council president says that after Governor Walker signed the bill, stripping most union workers of their rights to collectively bargain, a bill, he says was pushed through thanks to the support of area Republicans, he decided to ban them from the parade.

Radtke says Labor Day is about honoring hard working people, and in his opinion, Republicans don't represent those values.

"They only want something to do with us one day out of the year," Radtke says. "What about the other 364? What about those? Why now..why this one day?"

Radtke went on to say that if there were Republicans from Central Wisconsin who supported laborers rights, they would have been invited to walk in the parade.

Since the announcement there has been mixed reaction.

"We've had some negative comments but mostly it has been overwhelmingly positive," Radtke explains.

William Gau, a Wausau resident says, "I can understand the emotions and why the council would be upset. But, I don't necessarily agree that them limiting the situation is right."

On Saturday, Rep. Sean Duffy released a statement saying, "Having walked in this parade in past years, Congressman Duffy was hoping that for a moment, we could set our differences aside and simply have some fun in a family-friendly event."

He says the Labor Council stands by their decision to ban Republicans and, "a little name calling is not going to deter them."

Organizers of the parade encourage the general public to come out for the event.  It begins at 4 o'clock p.m. on Monday September fifth.