SEIU District 1199 New Connections Network

9:00 am; Temperature somewhere around 80 degrees (it sure felt hotter than that).  I found a parking spot right across from AJ Rickoff school on E. 147th and Kinsman.  Saw some Purple and Gold and knew my SEIU sisters and brothers were ready to show our union pride in the 2008 Labor Day Parade, Cleveland, Ohio.  Met up with Kendra, Annette and some of the MPOs and walked to E. 151 St. where other SEIU members (District 1199 and Local 3) were gathered to take our place in the parade.  We had such a huge turnout.  Members had brought their children, spouses and friends to join in the parade.  While waiting, one of the residents opened her house to us and was given an SEIU for Obama t-shirt for her hospitality.  Marquis was videotaping and interviewing members about what the day was all about.  There were also other labor groups with us, Local 310, AFSME, and the CTU.  The parade was to begin at 10:30 am but we were patiently waiting to take our position in the parade.  It was getting hotter by the minute.  But our spirit as union members didn't let the heat keep us from showing how proud we are as SEIU members.  We shouted out chants, chatted with other labor group members, talked to local politicians (Dennis Kucinich among them), and began reving up our chants for Barack Obama.  It seemed like we were waiting a long time to get moving (by now, it was almost noon).  After a brief discussion, it was decided that we couldn't wait any longer.  We began marching along the edge of Kinsman until we found an opening in the parade.  We were on the move.  Flag bearers waved the SEIU flags (I had one of them), pails were used as drums to give us a beat, SEIU signs were held high in the air, banners were carried, and the melodic chants let the community know that SEIU was in the house.  We had the largest group of union members in the parade.  We interacted with the parad watchers when we chanted S-E-I-U, by pointing to ourselves on the "I" and pointing to the parade watchers on the "U".  And when we sang, Oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA. as we did the giddy-up horsey in a circular motion dance, the crowd went wild.  The community cheered with us, chanted with us and recognized who the Purple and Gold sea of working class people were SEIU members.  Anton Farmby from Local 3 and others led us in the response and call through a bull horn.  The walk was grueling for me, but I did it and felt good.  I was so tired by the time we reached Luke Easter Park, I had to sit for quite a while to recoup my energy.

This was the first year that the AFL-CIO (which we are still affiliated with in Northeast Ohio) joined in the annual 11th Congressional Labor Day Parade which has been part of Congressman Louis Stokes and the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones community Labor Day Parade festivities.  While we all are still mourning the passing of Congresswoman Tubbs Jones, we kept her spirit and legacy alive.  The MPOs stayed at the picnic to register voters.  We know that the upcoming elections are tantamount to make sure that working class people and the poor are represented by a President that has our best interests in mind and will make sure that unions stay strong, employees will be able to form a union without intimidation from the employer, that there will be affordable and quality health care for all, that all children receive a quality education, and that our children and grandchildren will have opportunities greater than we have had.

I was pumped.  It felt good to be part of this parade.  While my feet were burning, my back and hips tightening up (from the long walk, along with dancing) my voice hoarse, this was just a small sacrifice to do my part and letting the community know that SEIU is out there making a difference in the lives of everyday people and making our voices heard, loud and clear while addressing issues that matter to all of us.  The parade was a great kick-off to the historical election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States of America.  We've got some hard work to do, but we, SEIU members have never shyed away from hard work.  Let's get out there and do what we do best!! 

FIRED P -- READY TO VOTE!!!  Spread the word and get involved!