Public Employee Press

Labor Day Marchers say:
Labor rights are human rights

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

As tourists flocked to the fashionable shops along Fifth Avenue Sept. 6 to purchase designer clothes made by workers around the world who earn well below the minimum wage, another contingent was preparing to make its way up the famed thoroughfare.

This group of tens of thousands was led by U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer, AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, Central Labor Council President Brian McLaughlin and DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. They were not shopping for holiday bargains. They were proudly representing millions of workers at the annual Labor Day parade. This year’s theme was “Labor rights are human rights.”

Stretching out five blocks long, DC 37’s participants followed colorful floats sponsored by Dept. of Education Employees Local 372 and DC 37 and a lively marching band. In the procession, local leaders and union members like Oscar Aldana of Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375 walked from 46th Street to 73rd.

“Privatization,” said Aldana without hesitation, when asked what was the biggest challenge facing labor. “We’ve saved the city millions of dollars and we’ve proven that we can do the work,” said the School Construction Authority employee. “But they still insist on contracting out our jobs.”

For retirees like Coula Farris and her husband Spero, cutting back on social services is the most critical issue. “We had some resources to work with years ago,” said Ms. Farris. “But now, with all of the cutbacks, it’s harder for people to get the help they need.”

At the parade, Ms. Roberts addressed the issue of contract negotiations with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “The mayor has targeted our health care and pensions,” said the DC 37 leader. “He’s saying that public employees cannot expect a raise, that we need to sacrifice. He seems to forget that city workers are also New Yorkers. He seems to forget that we are paying higher taxes and shelling out more money for subway and bus fares, just like everyone else. At the same time, the real wages of city employees have fallen over the last several years.”

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney used the occasion to attack President Bush on his handling of the economy. “Working America is facing a crisis,” said the veteran labor leader. “It’s a jobs crisis, and it’s the number one issue facing

Americans.” There have been more jobs lost during the administration of George Bush than any other president since Herbert Hoover, said Pres. Sweeney.

During the Labor Day celebration, the AFL-CIO announced a nationwide campaign to build support for workers’ freedom to choose a union. In city after city, community and elected leaders are joining with unions to stand with workers who are trying to form unions and calling on employers to honor this basic American right.

Labor Day was first celebrated in 1882, when the carpenters and typographers unions of New York City hit the streets to protest poor working conditions and to fight for fair pay and the eight-hour day.