PRIDE AT WORK BUILDING COALITIONS IN THE LABOR COMMUNITY

The RWDSU 8-foot sign tags behind the Pride At Work float at the 21st Annual Rochester Pride Parade in downtown Rochester, N.Y.  The PAW float won the Stonewall Award.
(photos by Ove Overmyer)
(video by Bess Watts)

Rochester, N.Y.--  On Saturday July 17, members of the Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter of Pride At Work invited union brothers and sisters to walk with them in solidarity at the 21st Annual Pride Parade in the eastside downtown area of Rochester, N.Y.

The Rochester Pride Parade featured over 75 units, several more than previous years.  Marchers carried signs that highlighted snippets of the progressive history of LBGT rights in the Rochester area. There were also marching bands, floats, a very large faith contingent, motorcycle riders, politicians, candidates and of course the protesters on megaphones.  PAW friends Out & Equal Finger Lakes Chapter, another LGBT workplace rights organization, also fielded a strong gathering of marchers.

Participating labor organizations that showed support of LGBT workplace rights included Workers United, CSEA, SEIU, Next Generation United, IBEW, RWDSU, NYSUT and others.

An 8-foot sign on wheels supporting the Mott's strike for the workers of RWDSU was displayed alongside the PAW giant float that read, "Labor Unions: looking out for you." Rochester Police estimate that over 15,000 spectators lined Park Avenue and Goodman Street and over 3,000 people marched in the parade.

Bess Watts, president of the local PAW chapter said, "We had a great day. It was good to see the wonderful reception the Mott's workers received from the spectators." She added, "We handed out thousands of palm cards telling the community that the Mott's strike is nothing more than 'corporate greed gone wild' versus 'the middle class way of life.' The parade-goers got the message and cheered the RWDSU workers and that was very heartwarming."

To see a quick video of PAW and the Mott's workers reception at the Pride Parade, you can go here.