COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has forced the cancellation of all of the usual Labor Day parades and celebrations in Madison and St. Clair counties out of concern for the health and safety of union members and spectators as the viral pandemic rages on. The St. Louis Labor Day parade also has been canceled.
The Granite City and Alton-Wood River parades and the James Stanley Memorial Softball Tournament are off as well.
Annual Labor awards banquets also have also been canceled or postponed.
MADISON COUNTY FEDERATION
The Greater Madison County Federation of Labor has rescheduled its long-delayed Labor Awards Banquet to March 2021, making it a celebration of two years.
“To keep us safe, to keep our co-workers safe – that is what we have marched for, that is what we stand for,” Federation President B. Dean Webb said. “We will get through this. We look forward to next year and beyond.”
Webb said the ad book for the awards dinner will remain as is for next March, though needed changes could be made. For information about the awards dinner or ad book, contact Webb at 618-259-8558 or Mike Fultz at 618-409-4314.
SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
The Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council canceled its Labor Awards Dinner, which was scheduled for Sept. 3, as well as its Labor Day Parade and the annual picnic that follows it in Belleville, noting that with some city employees laid off, it would be harder to carry out the events safely and efficiently.
“The Executive Council regrets having to make this decision, but it hopes that everyone will look forward to these activities being able to be held in 2021,” Council President Scot Luchtefeld said.
The council noted that Illinois will not move into Stage 5 of its reopening and recovery by Labor Day, meaning events with more than 50 people would not be allowed anyway.
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