Main Street

Word on the Street: Fighting spirit of Cleveland shows over Labor Day

Stephanie Harig – Cleveland, Ohio

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, and I could make endless jokes about Cleveland weather and how cold it already is here on Lake Erie. But that would overshadow one of the great things about Cleveland: our resolve. Just look at the throngs of fans piling into Cleveland Browns stadium on Sunday afternoons no matter how cold it gets or how dismal our record, and you will understand this city’s passion and fighting spirit.

When talking to folks in the community about the efforts to repeal SB 5 – the bill that restricts the collective bargaining rights of Ohio’s public employees, I sense the same determination, grit, and willingness to be in it for the long haul. This Cleveland spirit was clear once again over the holiday weekend at three awesome events: the North Shore AFL-CIO parade, the Lorain County Labor Day Family Celebration and the Cleveland Peace Show.

The parade, organized by the North Shore AFL-CIO, was very well-attended, with many different locals marching together for the working people of Ohio. In addition, our Field Director, Dan O’Malley, represented the Cleveland office of Working America and educated people about the work we are doing around the campaign to repeal SB 5.

The Lorain County event was chock full of union members who were thrilled to see Working America there! Indeed, despite the spurt of heavy rain we experienced midway through the afternoon, the crowd was large and enthusiastic. Three Working America members were on hand to talk to the attendees, and many people we spoke with unequivocally called for SB 5 to be repealed and repeatedly expressed that they are ready to stand up for working families across all sectors of the economy. Even Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga voiced his appreciation for Working America’s presence at the event and for our efforts.

On Monday, the Cleveland Working America team attended the Cleveland Peace Show, an event with more non-union than union workers. We did our share of education around SB 5, which included urging people to Vote No on Issue 2 in order to repeal this bill. Yet, plenty of non-union attendees made it clear that they are already aware of – and against – this assault on Ohio’s middle class. Some of these folks even volunteered to phone bank with Working America!

Just as fans of the Cleveland Browns follow the team with a sometimes-frustrated eye on the distant future (there’s always next year!), standing up for working families in Ohio may, at times, feel like a tough slog, especially as the pro-SB 5 side ramps up their campaign. But, as Working America member Sylvia Bly said of her experience volunteering this weekend, “The atmosphere was so upbeat and positive…What I loved even more than the camaraderie was the realization that there are so many wonderful people who strive to make sure workers in America have a strong and resilient voice.”

This weekend was a great example of how Working America facilitates the creation of a cohesive labor movement by bringing together union and non-union workers. It is clear from conversations with people at these two events and elsewhere that plenty of Ohioans believe SB 5 has to go. By continuing to raise our voices in support of working families, we can and will make sure the bill is defeated. This weekend, surely, was evidence of our fighting spirit.