GEDDES - Being Labor Day, it seemed only fitting that as the 11 o'clock bell rang across the New York State Fairgrounds, a massive parade began its route through the fair, paying homage to the laborers of central New York.

The Labor Day Labor Parade gathered together nearly 12,000 participants from Syracuse and the surrounding area, representing numerous labor unions from the Teamsters to CSEA to SEIU.

It is a tradition that extends back as far as anyone currently involved can remember.

“This has been going on longer than I can remember,” said Dennis Nave, president of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council AFL-CIO. “This has been going on for the past several decades at least.”

The parade, which is organized by the greater Syracuse Labor Council, is one with a message.

Nave said the unions gathered represent the epitome of what Labor Day itself represents.

“This is a day all about those that labor,” Nave said. “This shows that we are all united even though we all represent different unions and different professions we are still united by the same ideas and the same goals.”

The parade, which was led by a massive procession of members from the Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band, as well as representatives from area fire departments, state police and representatives of POW-MIA, was well received by the crowds that lined the route from the far fairground entrances winding through to Chevrolet Court.

Along the way there were cheers supporting the causes of the labor unions. That was a fact that for Nave, further enhanced the point of the parade.

“It feels good to see that,” Nave said. “It is a reminder that as much as they are here for us we are here for them too. We (the unions) are fighting for the middle class; we're fighting for the rights of the workers, so it is nice to see people show us their support.”

In total, Nave said 62 unions from Syracuse and the surrounding area were on hand and the collective message of all that gathered was common.

“This is about people earning a living wage,” Nave said. “It is about having the ability to support a family and live a relatively good life. Really it is about being able to live the American dream that is always what our message is about.”

The parade gives participants a means to express that ideal as well as gather with others that share it.

“It is all about unity,” Nave said. “That is why we all get together; it is to show a display of unity and support for each other and for our cause.”

The celebration continued after the party. As parade marchers filed into Chevrolet Court, the festivities continued with a blessing of the workers by a representative of the Labor Religious Coalition and then moved on to a luncheon that included an award ceremony recognizing the accomplishments of the various unions.

Awards went to organizations that have stuck to their convictions despite being on strike, as well as individuals and other organizations that have supported the union cause.

“The awards are about workers and unions that have done extraordinary things,” Nave said. “These are people that have done these things even though it has meant being on strike, but they have still stuck with the union, the awards are a way to recognize all that these people do.”