CLEVELAND, August 30 — Members of BLE Division 166 will march in the annual Charlotte, N.C., Labor Day Parade on Monday, marking the fourth year in a row the BLE has represented rail labor in the nation’s second-largest labor day parade.
“This year’s theme is ‘Labor to the Rescue,’ spotlighting the union members who served and died on 9-11,” said Ben Lee, Local Chairman of Division 166 (Charlotte).
Due to its heritage as North America’s oldest labor union, the BLE is normally first in line during the parade. This year, however, the BLE is conceding that honor to a group of New York City firefighters, members of the International Association of Fire Fighters, who saved countless lives at the World Trade Center on September 11.
Brother Lee said a small but dedicated group of BLE members will march in the 1.5-mile parade route. He said it’s hard for most of his members to participate because many have to work during the parade.
“It is hard to get many (members) to march because most work on Labor Day morning,” Brother Lee said. The ones who do participate, however, “will walk sick, without sleep, in the rain, and then go straight to work. No questions asked,” he said. “They are true friends and BLE Brothers.”
The parade kicks-off at 11 a.m. on September 2, and begins with a professionally choreographed Broadway-style dance number, featuring a “dancing locomotive engineer,” wearing the traditional striped hat and overalls. However, the identity of the engineer — a BLE member — is being kept secret until the parade begins.