August 31, 2015
CHICAGO (Aug. 31)–Labor Day celebrations have been announced for 15 metropolitan areas across the state, and the SMART-Transportation Division’s Illinois Legislative Board is calling on all members not working that day to attend an event as a sign of solidarity with other workers who could by harmed by Gov. Rauner’s extreme and misguided priorities.
“Historically, Labor Day is a day of relaxation and family gatherings that celebrate the accomplishments of the American labor movement and honor the heroes who gave their lives to secure the right of workers to bargain with their employers,” said SMART-TD Illinois Legislative Director Robert W. Guy.
“But sometimes the holiday has to be turned toward a more serious purpose when the enemies of labor try to roll back some of the rights working people and their unions have secured over the last century,” Guy said.
And that’s happening right now in Illinois, Guy said.
“Gov. Rauner’s ‘turn-around’ agenda is simply an all-out attack on working people and the unions that protect them.” Guy said.
Guy urged union members to read the full-page story on page 9 of Saturday’s Chicago Sun-Times in which Rauner denounced the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFSCME, as “AFSCAMMY.”
“That remark is just one more indication that Gov. Rauner is not just anti-union but that his attitude toward organized labor is one of contempt,” Guy said. “He seems to believe at a
fundamental level that working people banding together to negotiate with their employers is an illegitimate activity.”
Guy said while he and his colleagues from other union legislative boards work with legislators in Springfield to defeat legislation that harms and weakens worker protections, the rank-and-file can do its part by having a good time—and speaking out—at the nearest
Labor Day event.
“This is the time to show Gov. Rauner we are strong, we are united, and we stand solid with our brothers and sisters of other labor organizations, especially public employees.”
Guy said. “Gov. Rauner may have government employees in his crosshairs today, but if he succeeds in eliminating their right to negotiate he will have private-sector employees in
the same scope tomorrow.”
Guy urged all members to review the list of Labor Day celebrations below and bring the whole family to join the fun at the nearest one.
“And if your Labor Day celebration is covered by the media, be sure to tell any reporters you meet that you’re not going to let Gov. Rauner strip away your hard-won workplace
rights,” he said. “This holiday is a great chance to get our message out.”
Labor Day Across Illinois
BELLEVILLE
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade & Picnic
Location: Parade is in downtown Belleville, lineup starts in 4th block of South 1st St., and will end at Hough Park with
the annual Picnic. Parade & Picnic open to union members and their families ONLY and includes food, beverage andrides and games for kids.
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Time: Parade – 8:00 a.m. lineup, 10:00 a.m. start / Picnic – 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: Bill Thurston, 618-973-3226
Special Notice: NO PETS OF ANY KIND ALLOWED AT PARADE OR PICNIC
BLOOMINGTON – NORMAL
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade followed by a dinner in Miller Park for union members and their families.
Theme is “”For More than Ourselves”
Location: Downtown Bloomington – starting at Front and Madison Streets
Time: Parade – 9 a.m. line up, 10 a.m. start / Lunch – 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Mike Matejka 309-827-3934. Parade registration form is at
CHAMPAIGN – URBANA
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade followed by a Celebration of Labor and softball tournament in the park.
Location: Downtown Urbana starting at Lincoln Square Mall.
Time: Parade begins at 10 a.m., picnic and tournament immediately following at Prairie Park in Urbana. Lunch and
drinks will be provided. A State of the Labor Movement in Illinois presentation will be made. Entertainment provided
by a live band. The annual softball tournament will begin after lunch.
Contact: Call 217-352-1741 or call Brad Diel at 217-841-2822
CHARLESTON
Aug. 29 – Mid-Eastern Illinois CLC Labor Picnic, with food, drinks and live music. This is the 39th year!
Location: Fox Ridge State Park, brick pavilion, (8 miles south of Charleston on Rt. 130).
Time: Noon until 4 PM
Contact: Charles Delman, 217-348-7786 or Dan Kimball, 217-234-4609
CHICAGO
Sept. 5-6 – Labor in the Pulpit/on the Bimah/in the Minbar. Launched over 15 years ago, Labor in the Pulpit/on the
Bimah/in the Minbar is organized by the Chicago Federation of Labor and features union members, shop stewards and
elected labor leaders speaking at over 100 religions services across the Chicagoland area. Presenters discuss how labor
and faith communities work to achieve social and economic justice.
Locations: Religious services across Chicagoland
Times: Assigned according to service times
Contact: Nora Cay Ryan, 312.222.1000
GALESBURG
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade
Location: Parade goes down Main Street; Picnic at Lake Storey Park immediately following parade.
Time: 10:00 AM – lineup begins at 8 AM
Contact: Randy Bryan, 309-696-7649 or E-mail the parade committee at labordayparade@hotmail.com
Comment: This is the longest continuously running Labor Day Parade in America–celebrating 122 years!
DECATUR
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade
Location: Downtown Decatur, line up on South Franklin Street at Wood Street
Time: 8 a.m. lineup, 10 a.m. start
Contact: Jennifer Huckstep or Carl Draper 217-791-1279
Sept. 7 – Picnic In The Park
Location: Fairview Park in Decatur, IL
Time: Immediately following parade until – 3 p.m.
Comment: This is the 3rd annual combined picnic of all labor unions in Macon County, expecting about 1,800
participants. Free to union sponsors, $10 for general public.
Contact: Carl Draper, 217-791-1279
ALTON
Aug. 29th– Labor Celebration Parade and Picnic- kids games
Location: Parade lineup begins at 8:00 a.m. in the “pit” of the Alton Jr. High School.
Time: Parade starts at 10 a.m. / Picnic –following parade at Gordon Moore Park, Alton, IL on hwy 140.
Contact: Dean Webb, 618-259-8558 or Rick Wieckhorst 618-254-1395
GRANITE CITY
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade and Picnic – Live music and petting zoo
Location: Parade lineup begins at 9:00 a.m. in downtown Granite City on State Street between Niedringhaus & 18th Streets and will go to Wilson Park for picnic
Time: Parade starts at 10:00 a.m.
Contact: Dean Webb, 618-259-8558 or Mike Fultz 618-931-7212, cell 618-409-4314
PEORIA
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade with a theme
Location: Parade – Downtown Peoria – Free Bus Rides Provided by ATU Local #416 and Citylink from the Riverfront to downtown Peoria for the parade. Labor Day Party – on the Riverfront at parade’s end. There will be food music & fun for all!
Time: Parade starts at 10 a.m.
Contact: Michael Everett, 309-645-4901
QUAD CITIES
Sept. 7 – 32nd Annual Labor Day Parade Quad Cities Celebration
Location: East Moline
Time: Lineup at 9 a.m. at John Deere Harvester Works parking lot at 1100 13th Avenue in East Moline.
Parade starts at 11:00 a.m. and proceeds along 15th Avenue.
Contact: Josh Schipp, 309-738-6536
Website: http://quadcityfed.wordpress.
QUINCY
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Picnic – food, games, music, door prizes. Free to all union members and their families. Expect 800 – 1,000 people.
Location: Machinists Lodge 822, 2929 North 5th Street, Quincy
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., dinner from 12 Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Contact: Western Trades & Labor Assembly President Ross Miller at 314-739-6200
Special Request: Each family is asked to bring 1 or more non-perishable food items for charity when attending the
picnic.
ROCKFORD
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade with the theme of “We Are Unions Marching Strong.”
Time: 10:00 a.m., lineup at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Rockford
Special Note: A float contest for the unions will be held at 7:30 a.m. and winners will be announced and ribbons placed on the floats prior to the start of the parade.
Contact: Bill Corey, 815-968-1411, rulpresident@yahoo.com
Sept. 7 – We Are One Picnic – This is an all-union picnic immediately following the parade at Davis Park in downtown
Rockford. The picnic will go until 3:00 p.m. Meal tickets are $5 in advance (or $7 at the gate) and beer tickets are $2.50 in advance (or $5 at the gate). This is a family-friendly event with free games and activities for kids! To reserve tickets in advance, contact Trisha Welte at 815-986-4822
SPRINGFIELD
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Parade immediately followed with a picnic – burgers, brats, hotdogs, soda, water and ice cream. Bounce houses for young and old, live entertainment, beer sales available.
Location: Downtown Springfield – Jefferson Street to 5th, 5th to Capitol, Capitol to 6th, 6th to Washington
Time: 9 a.m. line-up, 10 a.m. start
Contact: Scott Saunders, 217-725-9794
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Aug. 28 through Sept. 7 – DuQuoin Illinois State Fair
Labor Pavilion will be open each day of the fair and is sponsored by The Egyptian Building Trades Twilight Parade will be held at 6pm on August 28th for union members walking with the Union float(s) – Please arrive early
Labor Day Picnic Celebration will be held on September 7th, starting at 11am on the North side of the Fairgrounds.
(Free barbeque and music for union members and their families.)
Location: All events will be at the DuQuoin State Fair Grounds, just off Route 51 in DuQuoin, IL
Contact: Jason Woolard, 618-932-2102
And don’t forget Chicago, where the Pullman State Historic Site at 11057 S. Cottage Grove will celebrate the Pullman Palace Car Co. strike of 1893-94. The celebration starts at 12:30 p.m. with a tour of the “model village” where industrial baron George M. Pullman sought to avoid labor disputes by housing his workers in modern, sanitary housing with indoor plumbing and electricity– only to cut their wages during the financial panic of 1893. The ensuing strike swept railroads across the country and helped launch the American labor movement.
The festivities also will celebrate A. Phillip Randolph’s founding of the Brotherhood of Railroad Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, bringing union representation and better wages and working conditions to the previously “invisible” African-Americans who took care of first-class passengers. Music and program start at 1:30 p.m.
