Thousands march in solidarity to support the labor movement
TOLEDO – Thousands gathered in downtown Toledo to watch local unions march through the streets of downtown to celebrate the labor movement during the annual Labor Day parade on Monday.
Attendees watched as about 85 union groups marched for two hours carrying banners representing local unions they belong to. Marchers held signs, chanted, and threw candy and toys to the children, while attendees viewed trucks, trolleys, classic cars and other vehicles slowing make their day down Summit and Monroe streets. Several local school marching bands also performed in the parade.
John Kowalski, a United Steel Workers Local Union 912 member and an employee at the Toledo Refining Company, was in attendance for the parade. He explained why he thinks unions are important.
“Unions fight for the small guy, bring up wages, bring up the work-life balance so you’re not working 80 hours a week,” he said.
Anyone who does not support unions needs to “do their homework and look into the actual facts, not just what the media portrays it as.”
John Kowalski, United Steel Workers Local Union 912
Kowalski said he believes the parade is important because it gets people to come out in support of the City of Toledo.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.” Labor Day has been celebrated since 1882 but did not become a federal holiday until President Grover Cleveland signed a bill into law on June 28, 1894.
Before unions, workers would be forced to spend long hours in unsafe and deadly working conditions while earning low wages. To prevent this, unions work to improve workplace conditions and the well-being of the workers. Unions negotiate benefits for their members, such as fair pay, breaks, vacation and sick time, and a fair schedule to ensure members are well-rested.
In the United States, unions trace their origins to 1794, when Philadelphia Shoemakers formed The Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers.
Mark Schmiehausen, president of Teamsters Local 20, has been personally involved with the Labor Day parade for 34 years. He believes the local unions represent hardworking men and women across the United States.
Schmiehausen explained where workers would be without union representation. “The employer would be able to direct the workforce without a contract, without rules, it would be an unfair playing field.
Schmiehausen closed by saying he wants to see more people be unionized and have a voice in the workplace.
“We have to celebrate labor: The middle class built this country, they continue to build the country, and it’s a day to celebrate all the hard labor. It’s the tiers of making America great,” he said.
