The 45th annual Labor Day Solidarity Parade and Picnic Rally was held Monday in Wilmington.
Workers from unions including AFSCME, SAG-AFTRA, the Teamsters, and the carpenter’s union marched to Banning Park. Al Cromer, a member of AFSCME, spoke to KNX News’ Karen Adams about the importance of organized labor.
“In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to do what we do,” he said. “But we're not in a perfect world. So we need to do what we need to do to protect workers.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who was at the parade to show our support, said the biggest threats to workers right now are automation and AI, which are the driving issue behind the ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game actors’ strike.
“These jobs are good paying jobs with good benefits,” she said. “They have supported their families, they have put their kids to college, they have bought a home, and we have to do everything we can to keep those jobs.”
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The theme of thus year’s parade was “Fighting for the Future of Labor,” with an emphasis on passing Measure A on L.A.County’s November ballot. The initiative would replace the county’s quarter-cent sales tax for homelessness prevention measures with a permanent half-cent tax.
"Only by passing Measure A will we be able to provide the affordable housing that is needed across the county, offer people with severe mental health and addiction issues the treatment they need, prevent more people from becoming unhoused, generate pathways to good union jobs, and ensure that the workforce serving our most vulnerable communities have the wages, benefits, protections, and representation they need to do their essential jobs successfully," Yvonne Wheeler, president of the LA County Federation of Labor, said in a statement.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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