SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Honoring the forefathers who fought for labor rights, that’s the goal of a group that meets each year on Labor Day. The Scranton Central Labor Council looked back on the past while inspiring those in the crowd to look for a better future.

Greater Scranton Central Labor Council President Eric Schubert listed a number of achievements made by unions over time to dozens of people from different union groups and community organizations. It’s part of a yearly tradition by the Greater Scranton Central Labor Council: to gather in front of the John Mitchell statue in downtown Scranton.

“It’s a way of honoring our past and letting the people know for our future,” Machinists Union Member, Joseph Cron, said.

“In our central labor council, it’s a myriad of different unions, you have teachers, building trades, public sector workers, health care workers, and everybody comes together on a common goal that we have to unite on Labor Day,” Schubert said.

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Local leaders and politicians spoke, highlighting the history of the labor movement in this area. They also highlighted the struggles people are facing in the present.

“Nowadays, everybody’s struggling. Everything was supposed to be so great, gas was coming down, healthcare was coming down, utilities were coming down, groceries were coming down. They’re not going down, they’re going up, and I think people are fed up,” Schubert said.

It was all in hopes of fueling the workers of the future.

“I’m here with my granddaughter to show her what we’ve gone through before, to show her the history, and show her that it’s important. What we put into it is what we’re going to get out of it,” Cron said.

Schubert added, “We may have some differences, but like I said, united we bargain, divided we beg, and we want to be united.”

Leaders said they hope to see more workers unite together.

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