Local 46 On the March
By Ned Resnikoff
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The men and women of Local 46 were out in full force at this year's Labor Day parade. Between 20 and 30 proud union members followed Business Manager Bob Ledwith up Fifth Avenue, waving the American flag, chanting slogans, and holding the Local 46 banner high.
The day began around 9 AM at the Hiring Hall, where members showed up to collect their Labor Day t-shirts and American flags. The shirts this year had their backs emblazoned with tributes to 9/11, in commemoration of the ten year anniversary, which was to come the day after the parade. But the parade itself was a celebration of life and solidarity, not an occasion for mourning, and the mood among the marchers was as upbeat as ever. Not even the light rainfall that showered the marchers in the first hour of the parade could dampen their spirits.
The march began around 46th Street and Fifth Avenue, then proceeded up to Central Park. The members at the forefront of the procession held aloft a District Council banner so wide it spanned nearly the whole street. Behind them followed two smaller Local 46 banners and a diverse group of apprentices and journeyman, so of whom were accompanied by their families. Halfway through the march, a group of the members' children walked out ahead of the banner and danced around with American flags.
Also marching with Local 46 was Dan Quart, candidate for the New york State Assembly. The union had endorsed Quart's campaign, and he and his followers were on hand to distribute leaflets, answer questions and show their support for Local 46 in return. Quart has since won the special election which took place on September 13.
New York City Comptroller John C. Liu also stopped by Local 46's procession to shake hands and be photographed with some of the members. Even the Catholic clergyman attending the parade took some time to pose with a Local 46 hat right outside of Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
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