Labor Day Parade in Pittsburgh

Vice President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton’s running mate Tim Kaine, SAG-AFTRA Ohio-Pittsburgh Local members and a cast of thousands — that was Pittsburgh’s Labor Day parade. 

Biden and Kaine campaigned briefly at the stage, set up at 11th and Penn avenues. Politicians and labor leaders were in abundance as well, including Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, U.S. Senate candidate Katie McGinty and U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (a former SAG-AFTRA member). AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, United Steelworkers National President Leo Gerard and Allegheny County Labor Council President Jack Shea led the labor contingent. 

The parade, which has a storied past, began in 1894. By 1914, it had grown to include over 35,000 union members. Today it remains as the second-largest Labor Day parade in the United States. According to the Tribune-Review, this year’s event was expected to draw more than 60,000 participants.

Members from our local arrived in force on a brilliantly sunny day. Local staff, including Brian Lysell and Chelsea Danley Rodgers, led our contingent with Local President Paul Martino, National Board member Chris Lacey, former President Alan Boal, Barbara Boylan, Lisa-Ann Goldsmith, Mark Roberts, Dean Patterson and Brian Price. Other marchers and participants included Tony Slomkowski (driving the T-bird), Greg Johnstone, Crystalann Jones, Ford Shankle, Edna Holt, Stephanie Bertoni, Elysia Annacini, Chuck Timbers, Jay Silvers, Brittany Sheets, Rodney Regan, Mark Roberts, Mark Tierno, Michael Petyak, Ben Sheeler, Rob Liscio and Jason McCune. KDKA Radio, one of our oldest signatories, provided a vehicle for the parade.

Starting on Liberty Avenue at 16th Street, the parade continued onto Grant Street and followed the Boulevard of the Allies to the reviewing stands in front of the AFL-CIO headquarters. Thousands of union members and their families, marching bands and others stretched across town for about two hours. 

Following the parade, as is our tradition, SAG-AFTRA members and their families moved over to the 14th floor pool deck of our office building and celebrated the day with a picnic. The food was hot, the drink was cold and the fellowship was stellar.

"I’ve been to a lot of these parades, probably starting in the 1980s, but this was one of the best," said Roberts. "Hey, I got to ride in the back of a convertible next to Lisa Ann Goldsmith. What could be better than that?"

This item was originally featured in the November 2016 issue of the local newsletter.