The parade features union marching units, heavy construction equipment, community organizations, high school bands, the Illinois State University’s “Big Red Marching Machine” and elected officials plus candidates. There are currently 81units registered for the parade.
“This a reminder to the community that people power requires voting,” said Trades & Labor President Robert Paul. “When union members vote and elect their friends, jobs and a better life come for our members.”
The Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 2, at Front and Center Streets in downtown Bloomington, proceeding to Miller Park. Parade line-up is at 9 a.m. The Parade proceeds west on Front Street to Lee Street, south on Lee Street to Wood Street and then west on Wood Street to the Miller Park entrance.
The first Bloomington Labor Day Parade was held in 1891, three years before Labor Day became a federal holiday. Variations of that parade continued until 1927. The current parade was revived in 1977. (see McLean County Labor – the Pullman Strike & early Labor Day Parades, 1894-1915 | Bloomington-Normal Trades and Labor Assembly (aflcio.org) for details on early parades.)
The Trades & Labot Assembly convenes AFL-CIO unions from McLean, Livingston, DeWitt and Logan counties. The Assembly has over 30 affiliated local unions representing construction, manufacturing and service workers.