On Saturday, September 12th over 50,000 men and women from over 400 affiliated unions marched up Fifth Avenue in the 2009 Labor Day Parade.  The parade, hosted by the New York City Central Labor Council, is an annual event that began in the late 1800's.  In the first Labor Day Parade, held on September 5, 1882, over 10,000 workers marched in order to demonstrate the strength of their growing movement and inspire improvements in working conditions.
 
This year NEW formed an energetic contingent outfitted in NEW t-shirts and took to the streets!  Over 50 students and graduates joined NEW staff and Board members at the parade.  Many NEW graduates, who marched with their unions, stopped by the NEW table to show their support.  Friends and family of graduates and tradeswomen joined the cheering crowds on the sidelines.
 
The Labor Day Parade is a good opportunity for NEW to represent the growing number of women in the building and construction trades and to network says Marjorie Schulman, Director of Partnerships and Special Initiatives. "NEW works closely with the unions to help place women in the building and construction trades.  It's important that we come out each year to spread the word about NEW and support the tradeswomen and tradesmen who are working everyday to build New York City." 
 
Marching in the Labor Day Parade is an exciting experience for both staff and students.  Two NEW at Night Classes marched with NEW.  April Johnson, a carpenter with Local 608 and Blue Collar Prep graduate shared her experience marching in the parade.  "I was so amped and wanted to celebrate NEW and everything it stood for.  It was a blast!"  NEW got the crowds excited with their rallying cry 'Put your hard hats on. Get your tools in hand.  And prove to all that women can!'  "It's a powerful message," says Amy Peterson, NEW President.  "It's important to let people know that women are out there in the trades, on jobsites, doing this work, and that NEW is working to help get them there."
 
Thanks to everyone that marched, cheered, organized and supported.  We'll see you next year!