Tatum Spencer | staff writer

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stood in front of a crowd outside of the United Steelworkers Building at Monday’s annual Labor Day Parade and highlighted the city’s industrial roots.

“Pittsburgh is an example to the nation on how hardworking folks can build lasting things,” Shapiro said.

The parade, which has been around for the past 42 years, started on Centre Avenue and featured live marching bands and performances, labor unions and crowds covering the sidewalks of Downtown Pittsburgh.

The parade finished at the United Steelworks Building on Boulevard of the Allies.

“I’ve been in this Labor Day Parade every year for the last many years,” Shapiro told The Duke. “It seems busier and fuller, and there’s optimism in the air from these folks. They know I’ve got their backs, and I’m grateful they’ve got mine.”

Shapiro advocates showed their support by holding up numerous handmade posters and signs given to them by campaign officials, while Shapiro himself greeted and thanked them.

As the midterm elections approach, Shapiro said his number one priority is to stay connected with friendly faces and to make sure new faces realize how much he wants Pennsylvania to succeed — especially its laborers.

Julie Parker, wife to a teacher who’s been working in Pittsburgh Public Schools for 21 years and mother of a son in the North Allegheny marching band, was with her mom and two other children Monday morning. They were making colorful posters to support their family and the rest of the union workers honored in the parade.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate all of the hard working people in our city,” Parker said. “We appreciate all the work that labor unions have done to make work a safe place and the care they’ve provided for the workers and their families.”

Natalie Gioveno and Dustin Deboris went to the parade with their son, Adam Deboris, to recognize the local union workers.

“Labor Day is the one day out of the year that we’re able to come together as a city and show our support for what we do,” Dustin Deboris said.

Sporting her IUPAT DC 57 union on the back of her shirt, Gioveno said her union assists her outside of her job as a painter with things like mental health support.

“My union really takes care of a lot of different aspects of my life,” she said.

There were other spectators in the crowd who had no relation to union workers, but wanted to show their gratitude to the unions in the city.

Keisha Hatten, who has been going to the parade since she was a little girl, brought her daughter, Juanae Hatten.

Keisha Hatten said she looked forward to seeing local, everyday workers getting recognized and was excited to continue the annual tradition with her daughter.

“When I was younger, we used to get to see our neighborhood mailman, teachers and other laborers in my community. Now being older, I actually see people who I’ve worked with or grew up with,” Keisha Hatten said.

Organizations lined up before the parade to advocate and show awareness for their causes, such as Variety Pittsburgh, who led the parade with more than 100 members. The nonprofit fights to provide social inclusion for children with physical, mental and sensory disability, according to their website.

They were led by CEO Tom Baker, who expressed his gratitude to the labor community.

“The labor community is generous and kind to our organization,” Baker said. “I think the labor community is a great place for people to feel like home. Members of the different unions and trades get to spend today together which is wonderful.”

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato told The Duke that it’s important to stick together as a community of not only labor workers, but as Americans.

“We’re living in a time that has not been particularly friendly to organized labor, and that’s just not going to fly in Allegheny County,” Innamorato said. “Labor Day is about recognizing what we’ve fought for and what we have to continue to fight for at all levels of government.”

Tatum Spencer can be reached at spencert3@duq.edu