Article Photos

ISHPEMING - The American worker was celebrated Monday at Ishpeming's Lake Bancroft Park following a parade featuring 25 local labor unions.

"Twenty Years Fighting for All" was the theme of the Marquette County Labor Council's 20th annual Labor Day parade, rally and picnic, which drew 1,200 to 1,500 people. A picnic pasty lunch was served while attendees enjoyed the music of Fast Eddie's Blues Band and The Blue Notes.

Clerk of the Michigan House Rich Brown, state Sen. Mike Prusi, D-Ishpeming, state Rep. Steve Lindberg, D-Marquette, and Mike Thibault, president of the Marquette County Labor Council, addressed the crowd following the picnic.

"It's been that continuous contribution to the middle class in America that makes me most proud to have been a union member," said Prusi, who worked on the Marquette Iron Range before entering state politics.

Prusi applauded local union involvement, support and education of youths.

"If we don't have the participation of you young people out there ... everything we've built, everything we've worked for through the years could fall apart within one generation," Prusi said.

Lindberg spoke about the importance of labor unions and the rights unions defend.

"You're the tip of the spear," Lindberg said. "You're the people who go out and fight for all the working men and women in this country."

Sheryl Orcutt, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 25, attended the event with co-worker Rod Young and their families. Orcutt, a Marq-Tran dispatcher, has been with the union for eight years and said she is grateful for its role in her life.

"If we didn't have unions, we'd be making minimum wage, we wouldn't have benefits ... we'd have to be working two jobs" Orcutt said.

Health care was a topic of discussion among attendees and speakers.

"Our contract is going to be up real quick and we may be without benefits, so we need to figure out what's going to happen," Orcutt said.

Labor Council Treasurer Kathy Carlson said the state of the economy has caused worry among workers, yet they remain hopeful.

"I think we're optimistic with the new (presidential) leadership that things will get better," Carlson said.

Ishpeming's Labor Day activities united families and people of various working backgrounds and unions.

"Today is a day of celebration...the purpose of Labor Day is for all working people to have solidarity together," Carlson said.