Striking Post-Gazette workers finish Pittsburgh's annual Labor Day parade with chants and cheers on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
Pittsburgh’s streets on Monday filled with workers — among them were teachers, ironworkers, baristas, janitors, museum workers, carpenters, steamfitters and journalists. They chanted, “Get up, get down, Pittsburgh is a union town” and celebrated the strength of organized labor during the city’s annual Labor Day parade.
The workers were joined by a number of local, state and national political leaders who voiced their support for labor’s cause.
Striking members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and other Pittsburgh Post-Gazette unions completed the parade route at noon and were greeted at the review stand with applause and cheers.
Upon finishing Pittsburgh’s annual Labor Day parade route, striking Post-Gazette workers receive applause from, among others, U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio, left, in black T-shirt, and Summer Lee, center, in blue cap, and Darrin Kelly, right, president of the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)James “Hutchie” VanLandingham greets U.S. Rep. Summer Lee at parade’s end. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)Members of SEIU make their way down Grant Street during the parade. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey speaks to members of SEIU shortly before Pittsburgh’s annual Labor Day parade. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
“I heard that the newspaper was upset because my office won’t speak to them until they settle the strike,” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said during an address to SEIU members shortly before the parade began. “I don’t know millionaires and billionaires. I know working-class families. At the end of the day, you can report what you want about me, but the reality is my work is my work, and it speaks for itself.”
Gainey said he will continue to work for “a future for unions, for working-class families, and the ability to love who you want to love.”
Members of Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers bring some homemade signs to the parade. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro fires up members of SEIU shortly before Pittsburgh’s annual Labor Day parade on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
“This will never be a ‘right to work’ state as long as I am your governor,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said to gathered union members.
The NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss joins striking Post-Gazette workers for the parade. (Karen Carlin/Pittsburgh Union Progress)Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su greets workers during the parade. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)Ironworkers always bring an impressive display to the parade. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)Striking Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh members John Santa, center, and Andrew Goldstein play catch with Santa’s son, Jack, on Crawford Street before the parade stepped off. (Karen Carlin/Pittsburgh Union Progress)A union family along the Labor Day Parade route in Downtown. (Bob Batz Jr./Pittsburgh Union Progress) Striking Pittsburgh news workers’ attorney Joe Pass, left, greets John Santa, right, and other workers at the Labor Day parade. (Bob Batz Jr./Pittsburgh Union Progress). Striking members of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and supporters gather in front of the old PG building on the Boulevard of the Allies. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)
