In Philly, It may be hard times for workers but labor still walks the walk

In a show of Labor Day bravado, dock workers on the verge of losing their jobs pitched pineapples into the murky Delaware River yesterday while sporting "Dump Del Monte" T-shirts.

That wasn't the only cantankerous moment. Mayor Nutter got some boos and cheers from a throng of labor-union faithful gathered in the parking lot of the Sheet Metal Workers' Local 19 union hall on Columbus Boulevard

Yet, amid one of the roughest economic stretches in modern times, Philadelphia's annual Labor Day parade came off without a hitch.

Following the early morning speechmaking from the mayor and others, big rigs, floats, tankers, marching bands, packs of motorcyclists and contingents from more than 60 labor unions loudly and proudly made their way down Columbus Boulevard toward Penn's Landing - where a picnic awaited.

"We're going through the worst recession since the Great Depression and that has had an impact on all workers, certainly union workers," Nutter said.

"Projects have stopped dead in their tracks, people have been laid off. I get that, I understand that," the mayor continued. "We're working to do our best to create job opportunities to put people back to work and to make sure that they can take care of their families."

City Councilman Curtis Jones, among the elected officials who worked the parade route, said that the tight times should remind us of how important labor unions are.

"In light of the fact that we're in an economic downturn, this is more important than ever," he said, gazing at the parade. "This, being organized labor and its importance. The city works because people work."

Just about everyone who turned out for the parade - it seemed - was banking on Democratic politicians to turn the economy around.

As speakers endorsed Senate candidate Rep. Joe Sestak and gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato, campaign workers for them and other Democrats pressed glossy election literature into thousands of hands.

"We'd like to say that we're not a party - we represent labor," said Patrick Eiding, president of the Philadelphia Council, AFL-CIO, which organized the parade. "But, quite honestly, in the more recent times the Democrats are the ones who seem to fight for our message."

He did note, however, that state Reps. John Taylor and John Perzel are two Republicans who regularly win union backing "because they support us."

Seeking all the support it can muster is the 800-member International Longshoremen's Association Local 1291, which staged the Penn's Landing pineapple-protest against Del Monte Produce Co.

The international food conglomerate's plan to shift 75 shipments of fruit annually from the Camden waterfront to the privately operated Gloucester Terminals by Oct. 1 will result in the loss of 200 union jobs, said Boise Butler, president of Local 1291.

The nonunion workers - blasted by Boise as "scabs" - who stand to get those union jobs will be paid $8.50 to $10 an hour compared with $17 to $31 that his men earn, said the union leader.

"Del Monte hear this: We're not going away, and if you think we're not up to the fight, you're sadly mistaken," Boise said.

Attempts to reach Del Monte officials for comment were not successful.