Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Labor Day is Our Holiday

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The Labor Day Holiday was created by Labor Unions as a day to celebrate the achievements of working people and the value of work. More Pennsylvanians celebrate Labor Day than in any other State in the Nation. Join us as we carry on this great American tradition, which started over 100 years ago.

2011 LABOR DAY EVENTS – PENNSYLVANIA

Allegheny County Labor Council
Labor Day Mass and Parade
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Mass
TIME: 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: St. Benedict the Moor Roman Catholic Church

EVENT: Annual Labor Day Parade
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Starts at the Civic (former Mellon Arena) and finishes at the Steelworkers Building on Boulevard of the Allies
CONTACT:  Jack Shea, President, Allegheny County Labor Council/ALF: (412)-281-7450

Blair/Bedford & Johnstown/Cambria/Somerset
Central Labor Councils Labor Day Parade and Celebration
DATE: Saturday, September 3, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: 8th Street and Green Ave., Altoona, Pa 16601
EVENT: Labor Day Party
TIME: Will begin between  11:15 and 11:30 a.m.
PLACE: Blair Bedford Central Labor Council
302 Wopsononock Ave., Altoona, PA 16601
CONTACT:  Bob Kutz, Jr., President, Blair/Bedford Central Labor Council:  (814)-941-2776

Harrisburg Region Central Labor Council
Labor Day Breakfast
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Breakfast
TIME: 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: AFSCME Conference Center
150 S. 43rd Street, Harrisburg, Pa 17111
CONTACT:  Dave Gash, President, Harrisburg Region Labor Council: (717) 561-7830
Sue Weldon, Chairperson, Labor Day Committee

Lancaster Labor Council
Picnic and a Ballgame with the Barnstormers
DATE: Sunday, September 4, 2011
EVENT: Picnic and a Ballgame
TIMES:  Picnic – 5:30 p.m.; Game Starts – 6:00 p.m.
PLACE: Clipper Stadium, Prince Street, Lancaster, PA
ADMISSION:  $25 per adult; children 12 and under $20; ages, 1 – 4 free
CONTACT:  Jean Martin, President, Lancaster County Labor Council; (717) 392-2518

Lehigh Valley Labor Council
Labor Day Picnic
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Picnic
TIMES: noon to 6:00 p.m.
PLACE: Lone Park, 30 Lone Lane, Allentown, PA
TICKETS:  $10 in advance; $12 at the door; children under 10 – free
CONTACT:  Gregg Potter, President, Lehigh Valley Labor Council; (610)-360-9491, e-mail: [email protected]

Mercer County Central Labor Council
Buhl Day/Labor Day Parade
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: Assemble at 9:00 a.m.;  Parade at 9:30 a.m.
PLACE:  Parking lot across from Kayak's on State St., Hermitage, PA 16148
CONTACT:  Andy Harkulich, President, Mercer CLC; (724) 854-0605

Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO
23rd Tri-State Labor Day Parade and Family Festival
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT:  Tri-State Labor Day Parade
TIME: 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: Begins at Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall, S. Columbus Blvd & Washington Ave., Phila., PA
EVENT: Annual Family Festival
TIME:  11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
PLACE: Penn's Landing, Great Plaza, (food, refreshments, activities for children and entertainment) Columbus Blvd & Market St.
CONTACT:  Joni Bernard, Chair and Events Coordinator, Philadelphia AFL-CIO; (215) 665-9800

Reading/Berks Central Labor Council
Labor Day Parade and Picnic
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: 8th  Street  and Penn Ave. Reading, PA
EVENT: Picnic at the Reading Phillies Stadium (begins at the conclusion of the parade)
CONTACT:  G. Fred Schaeff, Jr., President, Reading/Berks CLC; (610) 374-2725

Greater Scranton Central Labor Council
Labor Day Ceremony
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Labor and Friends Labor Day Ceremony and Wreath Laying
TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
PLACE:  John Mitchell Statue, Adams Avenue side of the Court House
CONTACT: Roxanne Pauline; (570) 840-1650

Seven Mountains Central Labor Council
Labor Council Booth at the Grange Fair in Centre Hall
DATE: Thursday, August 25 through Thursday, September 1, 2011
EVENT:  Labor Council Booth at the Grange Fair (Staffed by AFL-CIO Unions)
TIMES: 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
PLACE: Centre Hall, PA 16828
CONTACT: Dan Long, President, Seven Mountains CLC; (814) 441-4425 or [email protected]

Washington/Greene Central Labor Council
2011 Labor Day Picnic
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Picnic
TIME: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: South Strabane Social Hall, 1696 East Maiden St., Washington, PA 15301
ADMISSION: Admission is FREE (union members their families and the friends of labor)
(food, soft drinks and beverages)
CONTACT:  Wayne Watson, President, Washington/Greene CLC; (724) 678-2229 or [email protected]

Greater Westmoreland Central Labor Council
Labor Day Celebration 2011/Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation
DATES: Sunday and Monday, September 4th & 5th
EVENT: Labor United Celebration 2011 (biggest celebration east of the Mississippi)
Live/free entertainment, amusement rides, arts, crafts, flea markets)
TIMES: 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Northumberland Park in Allegheny Township, accessible via State Route 356 from State Routes 56, 66, and 28
CONTACT:  Robert Lavely, President, Greater Westmoreland Central Labor Council; (724) 238-7406

York/Adams County Central Labor Council
22nd Labor Day Parade and Celebration
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Fishing Derby for Ages 1 through 15 (prizes in two age categories)
TIMES:  7:00 a.m. – registration; 7:30 a.m. – orientation; 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – fishing
PLACE: Kiwanis Lake, York, PA
CONTACT: Linwood McCowin, Coordinator, (717) 771-3806
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
PLACE:  Parade begins at Smalls Athletic Field and ends at Kiwanis Lake
CONTACT: Kittie Hake, Chair, Labor Day Parade; (717)843-8911

Bethlehem, PA
Steelworkers and Friends Labor Day Parade
DATE:  Sunday, September 4, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Parade
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
PLACE: Starts under the hill to Hill Bridge (Music Fest Main Tent Site)
No charge for marching in Parade. Please display your union colors (union shirts, hats and banners, and the flag encouraged).
EVENT:  Labor Day Picnic
TIME: Immediately after the parade is over
PLACE: United Steelworkers Local 2599, 53 E. Lehigh St., Bethlehem, PA
CONTACT:  Jerry Green, President, (610) 867-3772

State College, PA
Friends of Labor – Labor Day Picnic
DATE: Monday, September 5, 2011
EVENT: Labor Day Picnic
TIME: Noon until 6:00 p.m.
PLACE: Holmes Foster Park #2
1000 Block of Westerly Parkway, State College, PA 16801
(across the street from Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church)
CONTACT: Regis J. Kingera: (814) 867-2029 or [email protected]

History of Labor Day
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The First Labor Day
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later on September 5, 1883.

In 1884, the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885, Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation
The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. The first state bill was introduced in the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York – created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday
The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.

Historic Quotes
"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration." Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States.

"Labor Day differs in every essential from other holidays of the year in any country. All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with the conflict and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race or nation." Samuel Gompers, the first President of the American Federation of Labor.

SOURCE Pennsylvania AFL-CIO