Public Employee Press

Solidarity on parade

By JANE LaTOUR

Solidarity starts with a state of mind and grows strong in a topsoil of tradition, where it’s nourished by acts of commitment and selflessness. On Saturday, Sept. 10, in one of those acts that write history, an estimated 100,000 union members marched up Fifth Avenue in unison and demonstrated their commitment to the traditions of solidarity.

The tradition of celebrating Labor Day with a public display of labor’s ranks dates back to Sept. 5, 1882, when 20,000 New York City working people marched for an eight-hour workday and other labor law reforms. Since then, the labor movement has gone through cycles of strength and weakness.

Labor Day, 2005, came at a crucial time for the American union movement. With its membership shrinking and powerful attacks from employers and the right-wing national government threatening its future, labor’s unity was sundered this summer.

Several major unions walked out of the AFL-CIO federation and united in the “Change to Win” coalition, calling the federation’s organizing efforts inadequate and its political spending excessive.

But a strong majority of other unions, led by DC 37’s national parent, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, stuck with the AFL-CIO and said the division had weakened the movement. The federation targeted more funds for organizing and supported political work as the best answer to political challenges.

The split in labor heightened the importance of the 2005 parade and gave the movement an opportunity to measure its solidarity, which rang out loud from brass bands and glistened in the noonday sun as members of unions from both sides of the divide marched shoulder-to-shoulder Sept. 10.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts walked at the head of the parade, along with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, and Central Labor Council President Brian McLaughlin and other luminaries of labor.

Following them was a five-hour miles-long march of actors, bakers, carpenters, electricians, machinists and musicians; communications, garment, hotel, restaurant and store workers; teachers and teamsters and postal workers and huge numbers of public employees.

Labor united
“It’s a wonderful day to be out here showing our solidarity and showing New Yorkers that we are strong and united,” said Ms. Roberts. “It’s encouraging to see all the unions on both sides of the split marching together.”

Sally McGuire, a first year electrical apprentice and a member of Electrical Workers Local 3, marched proudly. “The labor movement is at a very exciting place right now,” she said. “It’s both the burden and the power of labor in New York City to help keep trade unionism expanding in America.”

Early in the morning, members of the DC 37 locals filled a block of 45th Street prior to the parade. As they prepared to march up Fifth Avenue, they were eager to share their thoughts about the state of the labor movement with PEP.

Roberta Burse is an activist with Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 and holds several leadership positions. “This day reminds us that we are all fighting for the same cause. We need to stick together,” she said. Jonathan Perez is the Central Labor Council delegate for his local, New York Zoological Society Local 1501. In his opinion, “Unity is the key. We have to be united and accountable for our actions.”

“We have to let people out here know that the labor movement is never going to die,” said Eric Wigfall, a member of Dept. of Education Employees Local 372.

“Mainly I’m here to show support for my brothers and sisters,” said Deborah Wynn, the blue collar vice president for Queens Library Guild Local 1321. MTA Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1655 members marched in full force, along with a children’s contingent carrying a banner that read, “The up and coming activists.”

“We need to go back to the original principles that inspired the labor movement,” said Local 1655 President Kevin Smith. “We have to remember our shared history of struggle and sacrifice. The labor movement needs to get back on track!”

Anna Berry, a member of Health Services Employees Local 768, brought her son Anthony, 15, to the parade. “He’s been coming with me since he was four,” she said. “I want him to understand what the labor movement is about. Our children are both the hope and the future of labor.”