City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, Aug. 30, 2013) – As we head into this holiday weekend, I encourage all Rochester citizens to take a moment to consider the history and significance of Labor Day and remember the economic and social contributions that America’s workers have given to this great country. Here in Rochester, we are blessed to be home to such a highly skilled and productive workforce, which continues to play an important and very positive role in the city’s transformation.
As Mayor, I am also thankful for the relationships my administration has forged with the Labor Community, both in City Hall and across the region.
Agreements with the City Unions have helped us keep our budget in balance and diversify our workforce so it better reflects the population of the city.
I am very proud of the Project Labor Agreements we and our partners have reached with the Building Trades Unions, which are putting more minorities, women and city residents to work on the job sites of some of this community’s largest publicly funded construction projects. These include the Midtown Rising site, the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority bus terminal, the Port of Rochester and the Schools Modernization Program.
These projects represent well over $1 billion in investments in the city and the Project Labor Agreements keep that money in the community.
This relationship with Labor is particularly resonant this week, when we celebrated the 50th anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C.” Dr. King often stated that the Labor and Civil Rights movements shared mutually beneficial goals for society. We are wise to remember his message today.
Finally, I encourage all area residents to come to Downtown Rochester at 11 a.m. Monday to view the Labor Day Parade, sponsored by the Rochester Labor Council, AFL-CIO, at which it will be my honor to serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal. The theme of this year’s parade is Workers’ Rights are Human Rights, which is entirely fitting in relation to the anniversary of Dr. King’s speech.
-30-
News Media: For more information, contact the Gary Walker at 428-7405.