Philly union members show support for Harris and Walz during Labor Day

Thousands of union members from across the Philadelphia area gathered in South Philadelphia to celebrate the holiday. Workers are feeling enthusiastic about a Harris-Walz ticket.

Enthusiasm for the Kamala Harris campaign is running high among Philadelphia area union members at the annual Labor Day rally and parade at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 union hall in South Philadelphia. 

Union members made up roughly 20% of Pennsylvania’s 2020 electorate according to Blue Compass Strategies, a progressive research firm, and they are looking to play a critical role in the upcoming election. 

Ryan Boyer, President of the Philadelphia Building Trades, told The Keystone that since Harris became the nominee they have doubled their volunteer base when it comes to knocking on doors in the region, and he believes this year can be a watershed election. 

“I believe the Democrats will probably take the House and hold the Senate, and I think that it’s probably going to be better because the country is getting to know exactly who Donald Trump is and who Harris-Walz is,” Boyer said. “They understand that Harris-Walz works for the people and Trump works for himself.”

The Biden-Harris administration has helped create over 500,000 jobs in Pennsylvania over the last four years, and the American Rescue Plan helped save the pensions for over 50,000 union workers and retirees.

During the rally, Boyer warned union members how Project 2025, a 900-page document written by dozens of former Trump administration members, aims to undermine workers rights by stripping away overtime regulations and collective bargaining rights. 

“We need to knock on 400,000 more doors and we need to work because our future’s at stake,” Boyer said.

“Project 2025, ending our rights to join unions, taking our raises away, ending overtime. They want to end overtime. I want us to know this year we’re marching for something. Dignity and security is on the ballot.”

At the Labor Day parade and rally, hundreds of local AFSCME members filled the crowd with their green and white Harris-Walz shirts. 

Sheena Fortune, an AFSCME District Council 33 member, told The Keystone how she is feeling with Harris at the top of the ticket.

“With Harris being the nominee, I’m feeling phenomenal. I’m a woman, she’s a woman, the mayor is a woman. It’s time for women,” Fortune said. 

Fortune went on to explain that she’s “very optimistic” and “very hopeful” that Harris and Walz can pick up where Biden and Harris left off when it comes to being one of the most pro-union administrations in the country’s history. 

Benjamin Hover, a former Philadelphia high school teacher who now works for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, told The Keystone that Harris is more than ready to take on the job

“I understand Kamala Harris, all of her work and what she is advocating for,” Hover said. 

“She understands what our needs are. She’s been in the White House, she’s been fighting with Biden for us, for unions and I hope to see a continuation and furtherance of our needs in the future.”