Joe Biden visits town for Labor Day

Light rain and dreary skies didn’t stop Jason Janidlo, of Bethel Park, from bringing his 3… Light rain and dreary skies didn’t stop Jason Janidlo, of Bethel Park, from bringing his 3 year- old son, Andrew, to see his first Labor Day parade Monday morning.

“I’m off from work today,” Janidlo said. “So I wanted to bring him some joy by seeing all the people walking by.”

Janidlo was joined by hundreds of parade-watchers who lined the sidewalk on Grant Street, Downtown, to watch people representing local unions, high schools, police forces and social groups in the parade.

Pittsburgh’s Labor Day parade began at 10 a.m. at Crawford and Centre avenues, and then traveled down Sixth Avenue to Grant Street, onto the Boulevard of the Allies, ending at Commonwealth Place.

But before the bagpipers played and the police officers on motorcycles started the parade, vice president Joe Biden spoke to thousands of union workers at a rally at Mellon Arena. He expressed his support for union workers and said he would assist Sen. Arlen Specter in getting the Employee Free Choice Act, now under consideration by Congress, passed.

Amongst the thousands of union members who marched in the parade were groups representing local electrical workers, operating engineers, iron workers, cabinet makers and display builders, sprinkler fitters, steamfitters, plumbers and mine workers, among others.

Kevin Bachner, a member of the local chapter of the Boilermakers’ union, marched in the parade with his two sons by his side.

“It means a lot to me to have my day off and spend it out here,” Bachner said. “I wanted my kids to see the dedication and pride of the workers out here.”

Uniformed Healthcare was also on the minds of the union members, including those from United Consumer Workforce Council marched chanting a call and response, “What do we want?” “Health care.” “When do we want it?” “Now.”

The Service Employees International Union and the Pennsylvania Joint Board of Workers United chanted a similar call and response while United Food and Commercial Workers danced to Whitney Houston’s “I’m every woman,” and marched with signs calling for health care reform.

“We are a fighting union,” said Kim Collins, a member of the SEIU. “Health care for all is important and we are staying strong for it.”

Union members were not the only people to use the parade to promote their causes. Politicians also used the parade as an opportunity to reach out to possible voters. Jack Wagner, a candidate for auditor general; Judge Jack Panella, a candidate for state Supreme Court; Judge Anne Lazarus, a candidate for state Supreme Court; Wayne Fontana, a candidate for state Senate; Joe Sestak, a candidate for U.S. Senate; among many others spent time kissing babies and shaking the hands of members of the crowd.

White balloons with the logo for PA Attorney General, Tom Corbett, were sprinkled throughout Grant Street.

Several high school marching bands, cheerleaders and color guards joined the parade marchers. George Westinghouse High School, Carrick High School, Perry Traditional Academy High School, Schenley High School and others performed during the parade dressed in color-coordinated ponchos and rain gear while blowing their trumpets, twirling batons and beating on drums to excite the crowd.

The dismal weather did visibly affect the level of excitement of both some participants in the parade and some onlookers. But Wilbert and Eva Williams, of Braddock, about 20 minutes east of the city, did their best to keep the crowds entertained. The couple engaged those who passed them by shouting greetings, cheers and words of encouragement.

“We always have a lot of energy and I definitely want to enjoy this parade,” Wilbert said. “It might be raining out here, but it’s not cold.”

The parade lasted for about two and a half hours, with Local Union 29 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers being the last to march.

Since Biden had only been present for the pre parade rally, he was not a part of the two hour parade. One young crowd member was disappointed.

“Where’s Joe Biden?” said 5-year old Oisin Carse from Bloomfield, PA. Joe Carse, Oisin’s father said the two enjoyed the parade even though they did not get a chance to meet the vice president.

“It was a great day, especially since I am off work,” Carse said. “It was really positive to see the union’s rational demonstrations in support of health care.”