MANNINGTON, W.Va.— Annual Labor Day traditions return to Marion County and all throughout the Mountain State this weekend.
The Marion County AFL-CIO, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and Marion County Democrats will join forces once again this year for a Labor Day celebration and picnic Sunday afternoon to kick off a two-day slate of union-sponsored activities in West Virginia.
The picnic is planned for noon until 4 p.m. at Hough Park in Mannington Sunday.
Marion County AFL-CIO President and longtime UMWA member Mark Dorsey said on MetroNews “Midday” Thursday that Labor Day remains a very important holiday. He said that it’s important to celebrate the American worker throughout the generations, and everything that has been fought for.
He said the rights enjoyed by the modern worker weren’t shared by the workers of the past; they were won through organization solidarity.
“Remember the generations who organized, marched, and struck and sacrificed, and in too many cases, gave their lives, for a better future,” Dorsey said. “The unions helped build the middle class. They helped get the eight-hour workday, the weekends, the overtime, pensions, healthcare, better, safe places to work.”
Dorsey noted that workplace accidents were all-too-prevalent in days gone by. He said the Monongah mine tragedy of 1907 will forever be a harrowing reminder of the dangerous nature of coal mining and the bravery that workers show. He said it was a long journey to earn these modern rights, all starting with a simple goal.
“(They said) ‘we have to get some respect and safe workplaces,'” Dorsey said. “So, they banded together and they won. But, a lot of people lost their lives trying to make that struggle. That’s why we owe it, every Labor Day, to have some kind of a celebration and never forget — or we’re doomed to do it again.”
The annual Labor Day celebration by is nearing the 30-year mark, Dorsey said. He added that it’s a unique event.
“There’s not many celebrations in West Virginia that have a picnic or a parade,” Dorsey said. “We want to keep it going, just because we don’t want to forget. There’s going to be ice cream, soft drinks, and some prizes. The keynote speaker is UMWA Emeritus Cecil Roberts.”
Roberts, a staunch supporter of union rights, spent 30 years as UMWA president. His extraordinary career is immortalized in the Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum at UMWA District 17 headquarters in Charleston.
Dorsey said it’s imperative that workers in this current day and age recognize the rights they have, and make sure they protect them. He said the value of the UMWA and similar organizations isn’t going to diminish going forward; it will remain a critical piece of the workforce.
A veteran in the coalfields, Dorsey reflected on the changes of the years.
“I started in the coal mines in January of ’74; that puts me over 50 years being a member of the United Mine Workers,” Dorsey said. “I put 35 years underground. Even my time, going in there, the differences that are made now. It was lot (less) safe 35 years ago than it is today.”
Sunday’s picnic is just the beginning of West Virginia AFL-CIO’s events throughout the Mountain State.
The Paden City Labor Day Parade begins at 1 p.m. on Monday, with a noon lineup. The festivities in Paden City include free live concerts, local food and beverage trucks, along with games to play and rides to enjoy. Additionally, there is more entertainment slated for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday starting at 2 p.m. each day from Paden City Park.
In Kanawha County, the Marmet City Labor Day Parade sets off at 10 a.m. on Monday. Organized by the Kanawha Valley Labor Council, lineup starts at 9:15 a.m. at the former Woody’s Goodies Store location. Organizers encourage participants to don their union apparel and bring their union banners.
The UMWA 88th Annual Labor Day Celebration & Picnic is set for 11 a.m. on Monday in Boone County. From John Slack Memorial Park in Racine, live entertainment and speakers are planned along with a pig roast. The festivities also include activities for kids and a cash drawing.
As the weekend goes along, Dorsey hopes that the children who partake in the events gain a perspective and appreciation for the significance of Labor Day.
“Maybe some younger generations will be there and (ask) ‘why, why are we doing this? Why are they having this picnic?'” Dorsey said. “Hopefully, the parents and grandparents can put some light on it and teach them history. We just can’t let it be forgotten.”