KATE STICKLES By KATE STICKLES

Labor Day Parades

On Sept. 5, 1882, the first Labor Day celebration was held in New York City, with a picnic, concert, speeches, and a 10,000-strong worker parade from City Hall to Union Square.

One hundred and forty years later, this Labor Day, we continue the tradition and celebrate the many contributions working people and labor unions have made to the prosperity of our country.

“We encourage all our members to attend local events and parades and honor the hard work of the labor movement – which brought us the 40-hour work week, anti-discrimination laws, fair wages, and so much more,” PEF President Wayne Spence said.

Sept. 5

  • Buffalo/Western New York Labor Day Parade and Picnic

PEF members will meet at Cazenovia Park beginning at 10 a.m. There will be buses to take marchers to the beginning of the parade route at Dorrance Avenue in South Buffalo. Line-up time for the parade is 11 a.m.; parade will step off at noon. Lunch will be 1 p.m. back at Cazenovia Park. Members – active and retired — and immediate family are invited. RSVP to the Region 1 office at (716) 853-3100 with your name, number of attendees and adult shirt sizes needed.

  • Capital District BBQ Picnic and Celebration

The picnic runs from noon to 4 p.m. at Cook Park in Colonie, Albany County.

  • Massena Solidarity Parade & Celebration

Line up for the parade at 10 a.m. at Willow Street by Coach’s Corner Restaurant. Lunch to follow at Spring Park from 12-3pm. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, beverages, and ice cream. DJ in the park and bounce houses for the kids. Free to all PEF Region 7 members.

  • Rochester Labor Day Parade

PEF members will meet at the corner of East Ave. and North Union at 10:30 a.m. Please register in advance by calling the Region 3 office at (585) 736-9460 or email afritz@pef.org with the number of people attending and their shirt sizes.

  • Syracuse Labor Day Parade

PEF Region 4 members and their families are invited to march with their Union Brothers and Sisters from the Greater Syracuse Labor Council in the Labor Day Parade at the NYS Fair. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Fairgrounds. All are welcome. Anyone interested in showing unity and solidarity should call the Region 4 office at 315-471-2311 for tickets and parking passes.

Sept. 9

  • Michael L. Burns Labor Day Parade in Albany

Parking is available at the Corning Preserve, beneath Interstate 787. CDTA buses will shuttle participants to the parade start at Academy Park, across from the State Capitol. The parade will line up below the New York State Education building between 5:15 and 5:30. Parade kicks off at 6 p.m. Food, music, rock wall, game truck and fireworks at dark!