Thousands of New York’s working people marched up Fifth Avenue September 12 in New York City’s Annual Labor Day Parade and among them was a contingent of 5,000 1199SEIU members.
Every year, the parade marks a special day for the city’s workers – when their contributions are celebrated in great spectacle. New Yorkers are given an opportunity to remember the vast diversity of workers who make the City what it is. This year, the parade was even more special for 1199SEIU members because the Union’s President George Gresham was named the event’s Grand Marshal.
“Seeing George up there give me chills,” said Kim Thompson, a home health aide with New York Foundation. “It reminds me what our Union can do and it’s is awesome that we have so much power.”
The theme for 1199’s contingent this year was “Labor’s Superheroes,” in a reminder of just what it takes to be a caregiver. Adding to the significance of this year’s parade was Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement days earlier of his support to increase New York State’s minimum wage to $15 an hour for all workers.
“The current minimum wage of $8.75 an hour just doesn’t work,” said Cuomo.
Judy Scipio, a home health aide with New York City’s Social Concern Agency. “It’s important for homecare workers to be out here today,” said “We do such hard work and this is what Labor Day means. I put out a lot of labor and it’s very important that we are recognized for that.
In addition to Gov. Cuomo, Pres. Gresham was joined at the parade by numerous elected officials and labor leaders who marched in a show of solidarity and labor strength. Among them were New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer and Vinny Alvarez, head of the city’s Central Labor Council.
“This day is about unity,” Dalia Rugo, a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Rite Aid store #4215 in Manhattan. “We are here representing that. We are here to show this city that labor is one big family.”
Every year, the parade marks a special day for the city’s workers – when their contributions are celebrated in great spectacle. New Yorkers are given an opportunity to remember the vast diversity of workers who make the City what it is. This year, the parade was even more special for 1199SEIU members because the Union’s President George Gresham was named the event’s Grand Marshal.
“Seeing George up there give me chills,” said Kim Thompson, a home health aide with New York Foundation. “It reminds me what our Union can do and it’s is awesome that we have so much power.”
The theme for 1199’s contingent this year was “Labor’s Superheroes,” in a reminder of just what it takes to be a caregiver. Adding to the significance of this year’s parade was Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement days earlier of his support to increase New York State’s minimum wage to $15 an hour for all workers.
“The current minimum wage of $8.75 an hour just doesn’t work,” said Cuomo.
Judy Scipio, a home health aide with New York City’s Social Concern Agency. “It’s important for homecare workers to be out here today,” said “We do such hard work and this is what Labor Day means. I put out a lot of labor and it’s very important that we are recognized for that.
In addition to Gov. Cuomo, Pres. Gresham was joined at the parade by numerous elected officials and labor leaders who marched in a show of solidarity and labor strength. Among them were New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer and Vinny Alvarez, head of the city’s Central Labor Council.
“This day is about unity,” Dalia Rugo, a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Rite Aid store #4215 in Manhattan. “We are here representing that. We are here to show this city that labor is one big family.”
