ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – The streets of downtown Roanoke will be lined with hundreds of people for the 13th Annual Labor Day parade Saturday. The America Works Committee hosts the parade every year to kick off Labor Day weekend and educate the community about the holiday.
“This year, we’re doing something different for promotion. We’re doing the national AFL-CIO campaign. To tell people unions aren’t about a political affiliation, it’s about the top vs. the bottom. We want people to speak about why they enjoy the benefits of being in a union, if they’re retired, why they are still enjoying the benefits of retiring from a union, and for the general public to speak about how they feel about joining or supporting a union,” said Western Virginia Labor Federation President, Chuck Simpson.
Parade-goers can expect to see floats, bands, first responders, and various unions showing support for the working class. The parade is a time to unite the community and celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers. Simpson said many of the working benefits we have today are because of union leaders from across the U.S., including in our hometowns…