Ryan Stern of Marquette and his then 1-year-old daughter Madayln pull the Tin Man while leading the way for the Sheet Metal Workers Local 7 during the 2005 Labor Day parade in downtown Ishpeming. While this yearÕs celebration will be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said they look forward to reflecting on good memories of previous celebrations, such as the one pictured above. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — This year has involved a lot of firsts, due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Upper Peninsula Regional Labor Federation is still putting needs of workers it represents first, organizers told the Journal.

That’s why “Workers First” is the theme of the UPRLF’s first-ever virtual Labor Day celebration, which will be held via Facebook at 11 a.m. Monday.

The organization, which consists of 25 affiliates representing 10,000 workers, has honored, recognized and celebrated working women and men on Labor Day for more than three decades.

UPRLF leaders were determined not to let the year go by without a celebration, UPRLF President Mike Thibault said.

“Well, some of us got our heads together, because this would have been our 31st consecutive event, and we think it’s important to keep the spirit of Labor Day in the U.P.,” Thibault said.

He said he was pleased to receive positive responses from national and state officials, candidates for office and those currently holding state seats.

Among those participating in the event are national American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations President Richard Trumka, and Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber, he said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sent a personal message to the U.P. as well as U.S. senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters.

Thibault said the video will highlight some photos from past Labor Day celebrations.

“We are going to refresh our memories of some of the good times we had,” Thibault said. “The celebration will be similar to the way it has been. We will honor one another.”

He said “Workers First” is an especially appropriate theme in the era of COVID-19.

“The pandemic has shown that without frontline workers like nurses, retail workers, city workers and educators, it wouldn’t take long for things to come to a standstill,” Thibault said. “We couldn’t figure out a better message (to show) that labor is alive in the U.P.”

He said the holiday is important for all workers, not just those who are members of an organized union.

“We set the bar and the standard and we fight for their rights as well as union members,” he said.

Participants can join the celebration at www.facebook.com/UPRLF/events, Thibault said.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.