‘Workers over billionaires’: Thousands march in SoCal Labor Day event
With the unions under increased attack from the federal government, thousands of union members came together to honor labor and voice their opposition to the hostile policies of the Trump administration targeting workers’ rights, busting federal labor unions, and mass arrests of migrant workers. Members from every ILWU local in Southern California were joined by union teachers, actors, carpenters, ironworkers, stagehands, nurses, public employees, and others were among the 25 unions that marched in the parade.
The Harbor Labor Coalition that organizes the annual events was co-founded by Local 26 President Luisa Gratz, along with then-newly elected Local 13 Executive Board member Dave Arian, Regional Coordinator for the Inlandboatmen’s Union David O’Day, and Diane Middleton.
The event drew local, state, and national labor leaders, including AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, California Federation of Labor Unions President Lorena Gonzalez, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler, and David Huerta, President of SEIU California.
Celebrating workers
Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September in both the U.S. and Canada to recognize workers. The holiday was created as an alternative to the more widely celebrated International Workers’ Day, which is observed on May 1. May Day more explicitly centers a celebration of worker power and solidarity compared to the U.S. holiday, which is largely marked by picnics for most Americans.
However, both holidays share the same American roots, stemming from the fight nearly 150 years ago when workers in the United States struggled to gain more control over their time from employers. The fight for the eight-hour workday, united native-born and immigrant workers, who typically worked 10-hour days, six days a week.
Fueling the marchers
The day started at 7:30 a.m. at the Longshoremen’s Memorial Hall
with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Southern California Pensioners Club that fed more than 1,500 people. The breakfast was made possible by many volunteers, including Auxiliary 8, ILWU members, and pensioners. Their work and generosity make the breakfast happen every year.
During breakfast, elected officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels had a chance to briefly address the crowd before proceeding to the assembly point for the Labor Day parade. Among the speakers was Local 13 member Vivian Malauulu, who is running for a seat on the Long Beach City Council.
Prop 50
Several speakers emphasized the importance of supporting California’s
Proposition 50, also known as the “Election Rigging Response Act.” The measure, which will appear on the ballot in the November 4 special election, permits temporary modifications to redistricting maps in response to Texas’s partisan
congressional redistricting.
The ILWU Southern California District Council endorsed Prop 50 at a special-called meeting on September 4. SCDC President Mickey Chavez
stated that passing Prop 50 is crucial to giving workers a fighting chance
in the 2026 congressional elections.
“It’s important that we elect a House majority that is willing to be a check
against the current administration that is attacking the rights of organized and unorganized workers,” Chavez said.
Press event
Before the parade began, labor leaders held a press conference for local and national media. They spoke out against attacks on collective bargaining rights, job losses due to artificial intelligence and automation, and the arrests of migrant workers by masked federal agents.
Liz Shuler expressed solidarity with the workers in Los Angeles being arrested by ICE and highlighted the nationwide struggle of workers across the country to fight for labor rights.
“I wanted to be here today because the Trump administration has made this ground zero for their attacks on working people,” said Shuler, “and we’re not going to stand for it.”
Lorena Gonzalez emphasized that it has been the union pushing back against the Trump Administration. She said that the labor movement will not allow the “bully in the White House” to come after their jobs or workers, adding that it will be the working class, not politicians, who will lead the fight to save our democracy.
Local 13 President Gary Herrera rallied workers to take a stand against attacks on labor by the government and billionaires. He called attention to the need for a political party that represents the interests of the working class. “Labor is under attack, but we are not going to back down from anybody,” Herrera said. “They are trying to get rid of our jobs through AI and automation. They want to eliminate our collective bargaining agreements. California is the fourth-largest economy in the world because of labor. Those billionaires at home right now, they’ve got it good, but they don’t know what’s coming. We know how to organize and how to fight. Workers must unify. There’s only one party we need: the Labor Party! We build, we unite, and we make lives better.”
Pensioners lead the way
The Southern California pensioners rode on a flatbed truck and tossed candy to the hundreds of children and families who lined Avalon Blvd. to watch the parade. Behind them marched hundreds of union members, motorcycle clubs, marching bands, classic cars, and low-riders. The march ended in Wilmington’s Banning Park, where marchers were treated to hot dogs, cold sodas, water, and popsicles as they streamed into the park.
In addition to free beverages, hot dogs, and live music, there were numerous vendor booths from unions, labor organizations, and community groups, including the Southern California District Council and the Federated Auxiliaries. The ILWU
hosted a dedicated children’s area featuring face painting, a puppet show,
and tasty snacks.
At the picnic, scores of national, state, and local elected officials were present and were briefly introduced at the start of the event by Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McCosker, who represents the Council’s 15th District, which includes the harbor area. Politicians were recognized but were not permitted to engage in electioneering at the event, such as giving campaign speeches or distributing literature.
Urgency felt
Many who marched in the parade felt this year’s event was particularly meaningful given the scope and scale of attacks on workers and unions. “As our rights and freedoms are being challenged, it is more important now than ever that we stand up and fight for what we believe is the right thing to do,” said Local 56 member Nico Meeker. “We have to really get back to the basics, get back to the community, and stick to our values. We’re the backbone of this country, and if they want our freedoms, they’re going to have to come and take them out of our cold, dead, American, union hands.”
Strong support for unions
The annual Gallup opinion poll, which measures public support for labor unions, found that backing for unions remains strong. The poll showed that 68% of U.S. adults approve of labor unions. This figure is the same as last year’s and marks the fifth consecutive year that approval of organized labor has been in the 67% to 71% range, a level last seen in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The poll also revealed a continued partisan divide in union support, with 90% of Democrats, 69% of independents, and 41% of Republicans expressing approval for unions. While all three groups have shown increased support for unions compared to 2016, Republican support has decreased since reaching a peak of 56% in 2022.