Unions to host town hall today

Candidates for state and U.S. House and Senate districts will participate in a town hall forum Saturday to discuss issues affecting jobs and wages.

The sponsor is the Chattanooga Area Labor Council and its members.

“In recent years, everyday working Tennesseans have felt the burden of stagnating wages, barriers to organized labor and the loss of access to decent, affordable health care,” a news release from the labor council states. “On top of this, many of us have experienced a sharp increase in cost of living, making it hard to stay in the communities we call home. As the 2018 midterms approach, working people are looking for change and moral direction from our elected leaders.”

The release said participating candidates include five state House candidates: Jean Marie Lawrence, District 26; Lemon Williams Jr. and Yusuf Hakeem, House District 28; Joda Thongnopnua, House District 30; Dean Sparks, House District 31, and Randy Price, Senate District 11. All are Democrats except Williams, the Republican nominee in House District 28.

Representatives from the campaigns of Dr. Danielle Mitchell, Democratic nominee in the 3rd Congressional District, and Phil Bredesen, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, also will be present, the release states.

The candidates and representatives will make opening statements and then take part in the town hall forum.

Admission is free and the public is invited.

The forum will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon at IBEW Local 175, 3922 Volunteer Drive.