Labor Day: ‘I’m glad we had a parade’

A Labor Day parade returned to the streets of East Moline on Monday, Sept. 5, offering something for everybody. There were marching bands, massive farm equipment from John Deere, classic cars, politicians running for office, many pro-union and labor entries, and candy – lots and lots of candy. There was so much candy tossed out […]

A Labor Day parade returned to the streets of East Moline on Monday, Sept. 5, offering something for everybody. There were marching bands, massive farm equipment from John Deere, classic cars, politicians running for office, many pro-union and labor entries, and candy – lots and lots of candy. There was so much candy tossed out to children, that one mother said her young son had enough. “He doesn’t need any more candy. Don’t throw any more over here,” she said near the front of the parade route to volunteers. Despite the candy overload, many of the thousands of Quad Citians lining East Moline’s streets seemed to get a kick out of the 39th annual Quad City Federation of Labor’s Labor Day Parade.

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This was a comeback year for the parade after being canceled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic  in 2020 and a rebound in illnesses last year. “While we unfortunately had to cancel the parade for the past couple of years, I am extremely excited to have it coming back this year,” said Dan Gosa, president of the Quad City Federation of Labor. “We have missed seeing the community and families with children enjoying watching and listening to the parade as it passes by.” Mr. Gosa told the QCBJ that there were about 55 entries in this year’s comeback Labor Day Parade. He added that many people looked forward to returning to the parade and “throwing candy to the kiddos.” Other than the candy, the big themes for the parade centered on pro-labor, pro-union and a push to approve a workers’ rights amendment in Illinois. Monday’s parade featured hundreds of “Yes for workers rights” signs and shirts. Many unions across Illinois are hopeful that voters will support a new section to the state’s Bill of Rights guaranteeing workers the right to organize and collectively bargain. The proposed amendment states no law can be passed to interfere with, negate, or diminish the rights of employees to organize and advocate for better wages, hours or other conditions of employment. The hour-long Labor Day parade also had many other labor-related messages and signs for the parade-goers. One sign stated: “American by birth. Teamster by the grace of God.” But there was another labor-related theme in the parade – the need for more workers. At least two of the parade entries had signs advertising for employees. One sign urged people to become CDL Class A drivers. Another sign, on the side of an East Moline school bus, advertised a $3,000 bonus and paid training to become bus drivers. While labor and union messages dominated much of the parade, there were other features to Monday’s event. There were area schools’ marching bands, oversized ag equipment from John Deere, and parade walkers handing out books and crayons (instead of candy) to children along the parade route. All the features were a big hit for crowds of people watching the parade. “I thought it was pretty well developed,” said Melissa Caldwell of Moline. “There was lots of candy and lots of fun.” Other people along the route were just thankful for having a parade after two years of being canceled by the pandemic and bad weather. Monday’s parade was held under cloudy skies, cool temperatures and the threat of rain. But the rain never fell on this year’s event. “I’m glad we had a parade,” said Jennifer Littrell of East Moline. “We were rained out on the Fourth of July and we didn’t have a parade (on Labor Day) for the past couple of years.”