PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Drumlines and dancers, motorcycles and marchers, Philadelphia’s Labor Day procession down Columbus Boulevard had all the elements of a holiday parade plus politicians.
Labor Day celebrates workers, the unions that represent them, and the political force they make in getting out the vote in elections. Building Trades Council President Ryan Boyer was one of dozens of elected officials who spoke before the parade to this all-important Democratic voting bloc. He says this year’s presidential race should provide motivation.
“I want us to know this year, we’re marching for something,” he said. “Dignity and security is on the ballot.”
Unions are in a stronger position than they have been in years, with an unapologetically pro-union administration in the White House, but Mayor Cherelle Parker warned that could change.
“There is an entire constituency that wants to take us back. Do you want to go back?” she asked. “No!” the crowd replied.
Fred Motley of UNITE HERE said his union has already knocked on 400,000 doors and plans to reach over 1 million by Election Day.
“I know every one of us here today in the Philadelphia labor movement understands the stakes of this election and we must all be out knocking on doors, even if we gotta knock a few of them down,” he said.
Parker said Philadelphia turn out might also flip the state senate and deliver the Harris-Walz ticket to the White House.
“We’re going to do it just like the resilient underdogs that people have professed to think that we were. Every time they underestimate us, we prove to the nation that we know how to deliver,” she said.