Labor Day morning, approximately 300 people gathered on Boston Common to march in support of strong labor unions and a $15 minimum wage, according to an official Facebook page for the rally.
Organizers included several different labor unions, local coalitions and community organizations representing blue collar workers.
Rand Wilson, spokesperson of SEIU Local 888, said before the rally that the event highlighted “the need to increase wages and expand workers’ rights in Massachusetts, and that unions are the best way to fix the economy.”
Wilson said while Labor Day is an important holiday to acknowledge, SEIU Local 888 and other unions are active year-round.
“Fighting for workers’ rights is something we do 365 days a year,” Wilson said.
A marching band played while people from local labor unions, the Mass Sierra Club, Black Lives Matter Boston and interested members of the public gathered to hear speakers before marching down Newbury Street to Copley Square.
Tim Hall of 32BJ SEIU said before the rally that the Labor Day holiday was an important consideration during the planning process, as it is traditionally a day set aside to celebrate the struggles and successes of working men and women.
“Labor Day is the day when labor and the working man is honored,” Hall said. “Most days they aren’t honored. It’s our chance to get out and kick up.”
Beyond any familiarity that might develop between employees and their employers, corporations still look out for themselves and the bottom dollar, Hall said. In this case, Hall said another goal of the rally was to give hope to unrepresented workers.
“[Workers have] more respect with a union, more collective power,” Hall said. “[They have] respect walking down the street and knowing how many people you have behind you.”
Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, who spoke at the rally, called the attendees revolutionaries. Markey compared them to leaders of previous progressive movements, in addition to those whom attended recent rallies such as those in support of the Affordable Care Act and marriage equality.
“This is an economic injustice revolution,” Markey said.
Markey also decried the many race and gender based wage gaps in the United States economy and promised to fight for the $15 minimum wage increase on the United States Senate floor in Washington D.C.
Kimberly Barzola, a member of the Act Now to Stop War & End Racism Coalition, said unlivable wages play a significant role in the economy.
“Unlivable wages are a part of the system, they’re not an injustice,” Barzola said. “They’re built into the system.”
Ronel Remy, a community organizer at City Life/Vida Urbana, encouraged attendees to unite against the current economic system.
“We are fighting a system that asks you to keep your head on the ground like you never deserve anything,” Remy said.
Several attendees said they attended the rally to display solidarity with labor unions, and fight for an increase in the minimum wage.
Sam Ordonez, 23, of Somerville, said he attended the rally because he had worked at Starbucks for multiple years and didn’t want other minimum wage workers to have to go through all the hoops that he had gone through to be able to make a living wage.
“Every rally is part of the same fight for justice in every part of people’s lives,” Ordonez said. “The only way to get [justice] is to get people in the streets.”
Marya Axner, 64, of Somerville said she went to the rally because working with people and helping people is what she cares about.
“This is my work, what I care about — working with people,” Axner said. “The Jewish community cares about working people.”
Jason Eldridge, 42, of New Bedford said he chose this to be his first rally and march because of his complete support for the minimum wage increase.
“For people with [criminal] records, it’s hard enough to get jobs as is,” Eldridge said.
