CWA Members at the Labor Day Parade 9-08-2012. CWA District 1 VP Chris Shelton (center). Click on the photo to view the photo gallery.

Saturday’s storms could not keep union working men and women from celebrating at the 130th annual Labor Day Parade in Midtown. In attendance were Members from many of the CWA Locals in the NY area.

Tens of thousands of people representing some 300 unions marched up Fifth Avenue.

The grand marshal this year was Gary LaBarbera, the president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York.

With an election hanging on jobs and the economy, marchers took a serious tone. CWA Verizon workers are still working without a contract and it is over one year since their last contract expired. CWA Union Members carried signs that read “We Are One” while chanting, “CWA, CWA”.

“We’re seeing the industry pick up, which is a very good sign that the recovery is on the way. So we’re very very pleased with what’s happening,” said LaBarbera.

“We’ve got to make sure we concentrate our efforts, whether they be at the polling stations on Election Day or throughout the year, to make sure that the middle class workers of our city, state and country are protected,” said Vinny Alvarez of the New York City Central Labor Council.

NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio joined with workers and CWA District 1 VP Chris Shelton to march in the Labor Day Parade. Other elected officials also marched with workers from 44th Street to 66th Street.