ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The rain did not stop parade participants from celebrating Labor Day in Rochester on Monday.

“It kind of dampens the parade a little bit but it doesn’t dampen our spirits,” the vice president of New York State Public Employees Federation, Randi DiAntonio, said. “And as you can see we have a great turnout, we always encourage our members to come out and show pride in what they do and we want to make sure they get the honor and recognition they deserve.”

What You Need To Know

  • Union members and elected officials celebrated Labor Day with a parade in Rochester 

  • This year's theme of the parade is "Organize and Rise"

  • The parade started near Union at 11 a.m. and headed down Main Street and past the Liberty Pole

  • The labor community held a conference at the NYSUT building

Hundreds of union activists across dozens of industries marched down Union and past Main Street to show support to the local labor community.

“It’s so important to recognize organized labor and everything that we do to lift the boat up for all workers in our community, not just those in unions,” DiAntonio said.

Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states that celebrate American workers' social and economic achievements.

“Labor folks organize and when fingers are all separated they’re not as strong,” Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said. “But when you put all those fingers together you get a big old fist, and when you get all these labor folks working together you get a bigger fist to be able to knock down the doors of injustice, inequality and all the other things we have seen throughout this country."

The Rochester Labor Council highlights the increased popularity of unions in large companies, such as Starbucks, and made this year’s theme of the parade is "Organize and Rise."

“You know, organize and rise, that’s like, we’re giving ourselves more power for something why are we not going to use it, why are we not going to allow ourselves an equitable stance in our workplace,” Starbucks shift supervisor Hayleigh Fagan said.

Many union members and elected officials touched upon the issues of workplace safety, wages, benefits and, most importantly, their appreciation for its workers.