While the Labor Day holiday is to many a marker of the end of summer, for others it is a reminder of those who worked and continue to work in industries such as coal and steel. Labor Day was designated as an official U.S. holiday in 1894.
“It actually was a grass-roots holiday. Workers had decided at the beginning of the labor movement that we needed a day to celebrate what workers do and the fact that workers were building this country from the ground up, building the rails, building the new roads, building the bridges and canals and all the things that made American commerce,” said Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale.
There are numerous events planned through the state, including Altoona, Lancaster, Farmersville, Philadelphia, Scranton, York, and of course the Steel City.
“Pittsburgh has one of the largest parades in the nation, been going for 27 state years and I believe 40,000 to 60,000 marchers that will be going through the City of Pittsburgh to be proud of what we are, which is workers, we’re just proud to get a day to celebrate what we do – our work,” said Bloomingdale, who will be marching in Pittsburgh’s parade on Monday at 10am downtown.
While there may be fewer workers in the state’s steel mills and coal mines, Bloomingdale said they are still there and that will never change.
“Now we have guys in new energy fields drilling natural gas, so work may change in nature, but work will always be there and it’s who Americans are – we are a nation of workaholics,” he said.
2012 Labor Day Events - Pennsylvania
Allegheny County Labor Council Labor Day Mass and Parade
DATE: Monday, September 3, 2012
EVENT: Labor Day Mass
TIME: 8:00 AM
PLACE: Saint Benedict the Moor Roman Catholic Church
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIMES: 8:30 AM - Check In; 10:00 AM - Parade Starts
PLACE: Starts at Civic Center (former Mellon Arena) and finishes at the Steelworkers Building on the Blvd. of the Allies.
Blair/Bedford & Johnstown/Cambria/Somerset Central Labor Councils Labor Day Parade and Celebration
DATE: Saturday, September 1, 2012
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: 10:00 AM - Step Off
PLACE: Greene Ave. and 9th Street, Altoona, PA 16601
EVENT: Labor Day Celebration (Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Pizza, and refreshments)
TIME: Will begin between 11:15 AM and 11:30 AM
PLACE: Blair/Bedford Central Labor Council - 302 Wopsononock Ave. Altoona, PA 16601
Harrisburg Region Central Labor Council Labor Day Breakfast
DATE: Monday, September 3, 2012
EVENT: Labor Day Breakfast
TIME: 9:00 AM
Lancaster Labor Council Picnic and a ballgame with the Barnstormers recognizing organized labor
DATE: Sunday, September 2, 2012
EVENT: Picnic and a ballgame
TIMES: 5:30 PM - Picnic; 6:00 PM - Game begins
PLACE: Clipper Stadium, Prince Street, Lancaster, PA
ADMISSION: $25 for adults; $23 for children 12 yrs. and under; Free Admission for Ages 1 through 4
Lehigh Valley Labor Council Labor Day Picnic
DATE: Monday, September 3, 2012
EVENT: Labor Day Picnic
TIMES: 12:00 Noon through 5:00 PM
PLACE: Bethlehem Township Municipal Park, Farmersville, PA 18020
TICKETS: $15 in advance or at the picnic; ages 12 and under are free (beer, sodas, clams, hot dogs, and Hamburgers
Mercer County Central Labor Council Buhl Day/Labor Day Parade
DATE: Monday, September 3, 2012
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: 9:00 AM - assemble; 9:30 AM Parade begins
PLACE: Hermitage Shopping Center at the Giant Eagle and K-Mart, Hermitage, PA 16148
Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO24th Tri-State Labor Day Parade and Family Festival
DATE: Monday, September 3, 2012
EVENT: Tri-State Labor Day Parade
TIMES: 8:30 AM - Parade Gathers; 9:15 AM - Parade Kickoff Rally; 10:00 AM - Parade Begins
PLACE: Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 Union Hall, Columbus Blvd and Washington Ave.
EVENT: Annual Family Festival - Food, Refreshments, activities for the children, crafts and Music
TIMES: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
PLACE: Penn's Landing, Great Plaza, Columbus Blvd.and Market St.
Reading/Berks Central Labor Council24th Labor Day Parade and Celebration
DATE: Monday, September 3, 2012
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: 10:00 AM - Parade begins; 10:00 AM through 2:00 PM - Beverage vendors operate at First Energy Stadium; 1:00 PM through 2:00 PM - Scholarship awards and winning parade entries announced.
PLACE: Parade begins at 8th and Penn Streets and disbands on Front Street at First Energy Stadium
Greater Scranton Central Labor Council Labor Day Ceremony
DATE: Monday, September 3, 2012
EVENT: Ceremony and wreath laying
TIME: 10:00 AM through 10:45 AM
PLACE: John Mitchell Statue, Lackawanna County Courthouse, Adams Ave. between Spruce and Linden Streets, Scranton, PA 18503
Seven Mountains Central Labor Council Labor Council Booth at the Grange Fair in Centre Hall
DATES: Thursday, August 23 through Thursday, August 30, 2012
EVENT: Labor Booth staffed by union volunteers
TIMES: During daytime hours and definitely open during evenings from 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM
PLACE: Centre Hall, PA 16828
Labor United, Westmoreland County and Westmoreland County Commissioners Labor Day Celebration
DATES: Sunday, September 2 and Monday September 3, 2012
EVENT: Labor United Celebration 2012 (biggest celebration east of the Mississippi) Live free entertainment, circus, amusement rides, arts, crafts, and flea markets
TIMES: 11:00 AM until 7:00 PM
PLACE: Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township off of Route 356
York/Adams County Central Labor CouncilLabor Day Parade and Celebration
DATE: Monday, September 3, 2012
EVENT: Fishing Derby for youth; ages 1 through 15 (prizes in two age categories)
TIMES: 7:00 AM - registration; 7:30 AM - orientation; 8:00 AM through 11:30 AM - Fishing derby
PLACE: Kiwanis Lake, York, PA
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: 10:00 AM
PLACE: Parade begins at Smalls Athletic Field and ends at Kiwanis Lake
Bethlehem, PA Steelworkers and Friends Labor Day Parade
DATE: Sunday, September 2, 2012
EVENT: Parade
TIME: 11:30 AM
PLACE: Begins under the Hill to the Hill Bridge in the parking lot at Spring and Main Street and concludes there.
