Eastern Iowa workers celebrate union-made holiday

CEDAR RAPIDS - More than 1,700 union workers and their families gathered at Hawkeye Downs on Monday to celebrate Labor Day.

The event, put on each year by the Hawkeye Labor Council, is a time to celebrate workers and reflect on the union-made holiday, said Rick Moyle, the council's executive director.

Political candidates and incumbent politicians, including congressional candidate Pat Murphy, Democratic candidate for governor Jack Hatch, and Cedar Rapids City Council Members Scott Olson and Ann Poe, stoped by the event to serve food and talk to voters.

'They like to come out and support the workers,” Moyle said.

A total of 38 affiliate unions were represented at the picnic, which featured live music, a raffle and games.

'It's nice to see people come out and enjoy not being at work for the day,” said Kelly Steinke, the incoming labor council president.

Labor Day was first celebrated in 1882, when more than 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for a parade, spurring similar events across the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Two years later, more than half of the states were holding similar events.

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that there are more than 155.6 million workers aged 16 years old of older, with more than 16 million represented by a union. About 143,000 Iowans belong to a union, according to the labor department.

l Comments: (319) 398-8331; chelsea.keenan@thegazette.com