TERRE HAUTE —
Labor took center stage Monday morning during the 31st Annual Labor Day parade down Wabash Avenue.
The parade, organized by Wabash Valley Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, is a family affair for Donna Boatman of West Terre Haute. Her father, Ted Elkins, a retired laborer, was riding in a float for the International Laborer’s Union Local 204. Her daughter and son-in-law are also members of that union.
“My daughter, Amy McCalister, is working on a new highway in Washington [Indiana] and my son-in-law, Jake Lindley, works in Watseka [Illinois] and comes back on the weekend right now because there is no work locally for him. They do whatever they need to do to feed their families,” Boatman said.
Her other daughter, Christie Lindley, wife of Jake Lindley, watched as their daughter, Jaleigh, 4, waited for candy to be thrown her way. Amy McCalister’s daughter, Caprice, walked with Local 204 in the parade.
“We come to show support and respect,” Boatman said. “The unions are almost about a thing of the past now, along with good jobs and good wages.”
Patty Buddle of Terre Haute had placed a USA ribbon in the hair of Payton, her 3-year-old granddaughter. “We are very patriotic. We try to make it yearly, when possible. We are here to show support for the laborers and the United States,” Buddle said.
She clapped as members of the Indiana Air National Guard marched past.
The parade, and a bean dinner that followed at Fairbanks Park, is traditionally also a platform for candidates who support labor organizations.
Joseph Etling, chairman of the Vigo County Democratic Party, ran to the side of the parade and handed out a Dum Dum — candy lollipop — saying, “we’re passing out Republican candy today.”
While there were no Republican candidates in the parade, there was a least one Republican official, Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett, who marched to show support.
“Apparently most of these marchers don’t think you are allowed to be Republican if you are union,” said Steve Trego, an Illinois state police officer and member of the FOP Lodge No. 41 in Paris, Ill.
Trego held a sign at the corner of Seventh Street and Wabash Avenue that stated, “25 year union member and I vote Republican for my family.” The other side of his sign stated, “Union and Republican.”
Trego said he was spurred to carry his sign after a GOP candidate was denied a permit to march in the parade. He said just a handful of marchers “mouthed off, but overall it’s been pretty well.” One marcher said “that ain’t too smart,” about his sign.
“I am not anti-union, but I belong in one because I have to,” Trego said, adding he does not like having union dues go to political candidates.
Trego said he is “a native Hautean and this is my town too, I can come back. A lot of people act like you can’t even stand here with this sign,” he added.
Sitting on a stone wall along Wabash Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets, Janice and Tim Davis of Brazil waited as the parade slowly moved their way.
“This is my first time watching the parade. We came out to support all of the workers and see what politicians would come out and watch all the kids scramble for the candy,” Janice Davis said.
The couple came in support of International Alliance of Theatrical State Employees and the Indiana State Teachers Association.
Roy Johnson, 68, sat in an electric motor scooter near Center City, an apartment and commercial building on Wabash Avenue, with his 2-year-old Chihuahua, Foxy Lady, on his lap.
“I live at Sixth and Cherry streets so I just decided to see what is in the parade,” Johnson said. Foxy Lady wasn’t as interested, as the dog began shaking after a horn was blown by a passing parade vehicle.
“She doesn’t like the loud noise,” Johnson said.
After a bean dinner, some candidates spoke to a small gathering at Fairbanks Park.
State Rep. Clyde Kersey, D-Terre Haute, said the November election “is a very important election. … We need to repeal right-to-work and restore collective bargaining rights to all Hoosiers. We also need to repeal the charter school bill,” he said.
Kersey said funding should be placed back into Planned Parenthood for cancer screening for low-income women and the state should fully fund the CHOICE program, which helps seniors remain in their home with assistance.
Jim Mann, candidate for District 46 state representative, said jobs are needed.
“I truly believe that working Hoosiers know that $10-an-hour jobs do not provide enough money to support a family. We can’t be happy with $10-an-hour jobs,” he said.
“We need to support our unions because the unions are there to bargain collectively for all of us and have our best interests at heart,” Mann said.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at 812-231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Over 100 years: Tony Callese and Joe Devers carry the United States flag and the union banner, respectively, as they and their fellow Carpenters Local 133 members march in the Labor Day parade Monday on Wabash Avenue. The union celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007. (Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza)
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza In step: Members of the Terre Haute South Vigo High School marching band perform during Monday's Labor Day Parade on Wabash Avenue.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Labor Day tradition: Volunteers, including Norm Loudermilk and candidate Jim Mann, serve soup beans at Fairbanks Park after Monday's Labor Day parade.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Prosperous parade: Treydon Hunter, 6, scoops up a few pieces of bubble gum during the Labor Day parade Monday on Wabash Avenue.
Discussion
Holiday parade and picnic a labor love fest
Residents turn out to show ‘support and respect’ for organized labor
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