A Parade With a Purpose: US Workforce Honored in Annual Event

(September 4, 2007) — Families lined up along downtown streets Monday, clapping and cheering as cars and floats passed by during Rochester's annual Labor Day Parade.

Even the street carts had lines, with people waiting to get their hot dogs for the parade, which kicked off with about a dozen bagpipe players.

Before the parade began, the Rochester Labor Council gathered in front of the Boy Scouts of America building to rededicate its commitment to the American work force.

The council focused this year's rallying efforts on health care issues and the support of the Employee Free Choice Act, under consideration in Congress, that would protect those wishing to join unions.

Jim Bertolone, president of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO and president of the American Postal Workers Union Local 215, said union polls show there are more than 60 million people willing to join unions, but they fear negative consequences.

"The American economy is failing the majority of working people and those who do not belong to the union," said Bruce Popper, executive vice president of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation and vice president of SEIU 1199.

The grand marshals of the parade were former union leaders Tony Bernardo, United Auto Workers Local 1097; Dan Conte, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 86; and Joe Montesano, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1071.

The parade featured an array of union groups, but there were also noisy muscle cars and firetrucks that made children point and cheer.

Whether they were part of a union or not, many people came out with their families to enjoy the parade festivities — music, floats and candy.

Clyde Logan, 53, of Rochester, sat on East Avenue with his four grandchildren Breyanna, 10; Anthony, 7; Justice, 6; and Camron, 4, to watch the parade.

The children, who were munching on the candy they got from paraders and holding balloons, kept waving and yelling, "Happy Labor Day!" to the passing floats.

"Oh, they love everything (about the parade)," said Logan.

Bertolone said he believes that the local union has improved, but still has a way to go. Quality health care, retirement, wages and opportunity advancements still remain items on the Labor Council's agenda.

Also present at the morning rally before the parade was Tracy Smith, a representative from UNITE HERE, to discuss the struggles of hotel workers in regard to health care.

"Every month, I have to make a choice whether to pay a bill or to get medication, and it shouldn't be that way," said the Crowne Plaza worker.

Smith said she's been willing to be a public face in this struggle because she is tired of the lower-income work force being taken advantage of.

"I want people to stand up if you're not being treated fairly," she added.

According to Bertolone, there are about 65,000 union workers in Monroe County.

DJWALLAC@DemocratandChronicle.com

CLVARGAS@DemocratandChronicle.com