Labor parade organizers plan days of service
The 39th annual Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade may be canceled this year due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, but the AlleghenyFayette Central Labor Council, which hosts the event, is still determined to honor both Labor Day and front- line workers across the country.
In place of the parade, which ACLC President Darrin Kelly called “the largest in the country,” the organization will instead hold a “Labor Day Weekend of Service” from Friday through Monday.
“Naturally, we’re very proud of the parade, and canceling it is disappointing,” Mr. Kelly said, “but we knew it was the right decision to make for everyone’s safety.
“While we can’t have our usual Labor Day celebrations this year, we are embracing this opportunity to honor the frontline workers who are helping us get through this pandemic and to show what organized labor is all about: serving our communities and taking care of people in need.”
In addition to tens of thousands of other attendees, Mr. Kelly said the parade also typically attracts many politicians looking for local union support. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, has attended the parade twice, most recently in 2018.
The labor council will provide several community- service events over the weekend, including food distribution and local beautification efforts.
The Weekend of Service will begin Friday with an emergency food distribution at the PPG Paints Arena parking lot between 10 a. m. and noon, in
partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The distribution, which is drive- up only as per safety precautions, is the most recent of five other similar events held by the ACLC and its partners since the start of the pandemic and will be the largest, according to ACLC officials.
On Saturday, labor council members will clean, paint, repair equipment and plant flowers in Renziehausen Park in McKeesport to “help provide local families with a safe, clean place to spend outdoors.”
This event will begin at the Renzie Park Pavilion at 8: 15 a. m., and everyone participating must wear a mask and adhere to social distancing rules, Mr. Kelly said.
ACLC members will work to clean and restore the veterans memorial in Crafton Heights from natural degradation on Sunday beginning at 9 a. m. and similarly will require participants to abide by COVID safety guidelines.
“To me, there’s no greater display of service than spending time to take care of our community and the veterans memorial,” said Pittsburgh City Council President Theresa KailSmith, who represents Crafton Heights. “That kind of service is to me much more important than a parade.”
The weekend will wrap up on Monday, with the annual Labor Day Mass to be celebrated at St. Paul’s Cathedral in North Oakland at 8: 15 a. m. ACLC officials said the Mass will be subject to attendance restrictions already set in place for normal church events at St. Paul’s.
“While it’s unfortunate that the city couldn’t come together for a parade, Mayor [ Bill] Peduto is still happy we’re honoring the men and women of labor and the public services they provide every year, in safe and socially distanced ways,” Peduto spokesman Tim McNulty said.