'The best Labor Day ever!'

PARMA, Ohio - "The best Labor Day ever!" These are the words used by participants in the Cleveland area Labor Day Parade, held in this suburban working-class city where thousands of residents lined the streets waving and applauding as union contingents marched by or rode on colorful floats and buses. Large contingents of Painters and Steelworkers led the parade to Parma's Veterans Memorial Park for a picnic.

United Steel Workers of America President Leo Gerard blasted the "right-wing, extremist Bush" administration for looting the federal treasury with trillion-dollar tax giveaways and proposing to raid the Social Security Trust Fund to the tune of billion.

Citing the steel industry crisis with 23 companies in bankruptcy, he demanded government action to stop the implementation of trade policies that "give corporations power over entire governments," adding, "Even laws outlawing child labor have been declared illegal" by the WTO.

Gerard called for trade agreements that raise working people's living standards and protect the environment. He condemned attacks by "renegade companies" against unionized workers, accusing the AKSteel company in Mansfield, Ohio as being guilty of a "most violent attack" against steelworker families.

"Bring corporate renegades to justice!" he said.

Painters International President Michael Monroe brought the union crowd back to their roots, speaking of the "fathers, mothers, grandparents" who entered the country as immigrants, raised families "and built the trade unions we have today." He added,"We have a new wave of immigrants seeking a new life in our country, organized labor must embrace and help them."

Monroe referred to the attack against the Charleston Five and the South Carolina longshore workers as a pattern labor's corporate enemies are following. "The answer is organize -organize every day, every hour. Everyone who works belongs in a union!" he said. "We have a sacred obligation to save and build the movement we inherited from our forefathers and make sure it lasts another 100 years!"