Working Families Build Solidarity, Comradery on Labor Day

Across Wisconsin union members, community members and working families alike came together to celebrate labor and honor the workers who make our country strong.  Working people are the backbone of our economy and their contributions to society are especially reflected upon each Labor Day. 

In Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Janesville, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Marinette, Menasha, Milwaukee, Neenah, Oshkosh, Racine and Wausau, Wisconsinites enjoyed parades, car shows, picnics and good times with friends and family.

Keisha Hollis, a Communications Workers of America local 4603 member from Milwaukee explains, “being a part of Laborfest gives you a sense of togetherness and that is what Wisconsin workers need.   Sometimes people just see us as fighting for our own causes but as working people we are part of the community and we will always fight for the greater good.  If we don’t have unions everything from wages and living standards will start to go downhill, fast.” 

Kenosha Laborfest 2012 honored Jeff Weidner, president of the Kenosha Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 414, as Labor Person of the Year. Bucket truck rides, pony rides and the moon walk kept all the Kenosha union members entertained throughout the Labor Day festival.

In Wausau, Nancy Stencil was honored as Citizen of the Year and in La Crosse, parade marshall, Dale Anderson, President of ATU Local 519, kicked off a ten-block family-friendly parade to Copeland Park where kids games, face painting, and other activities were enjoyed.

In Eau Claire, working families held a solidarity walk followed by a rally and picnic at Phoenix Park Riverfront Terrace. 

Meg Kruger, Working America member, was on hand at Laborfest in Milwaukee and detailed why she came out to support working people and their unions.

"Unions fought for the 8 hour workday, the weekend, child labor laws, and benefits," said Kruger.  "They didn't just fight for these for themselves, they fought for it for all of us, so that we could all have a better life and they continue to fight for all of us so our communities can be stronger and everyone can have a fair shot at the American dream."

Beer, brats and music were enjoyed as Labor Day participants looked ahead to the November 2012 elections and the need to re-elect President Barack Obama. 

 

Local Media Coverage

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Union members and supporters march, rally on Labor Day

• WISN Channel 12, union members focus on Presidential Election this Labor Day

• WSAW, Union Members Honor Country's Workers at Wausau Labor Day Parade

• Fox 11 Green Bay, Labor Day picnic at Bay Beach park

• Eau Claire Leader Telegram, Labor council rallies over workers' rights

• Wisconsin State Journal, Chat at LaborFest picnic heavy on politics

• Green Bay Press Gazette, Brats, politics on the menu at labor picnic
  

• Racine Journal Times, Unions rally at LaborFest

 

(Top Center Photo:  IBEW members line up to march through downtown Milwaukee. Left photo:  Corn roast at the Oshkosh Labor Day picnic.  Photo Credit:  Greg Hinds.  Right Middle Photo:  Wausau Labor Day Citizen of the Year Nancy Stencil. Photo Credit:  Scott Wright. Bottom Right Photo:  Children get pulled in wagon at Milwaukee’s Laborfest.  Photo Credit:  Karen Hickey)

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