The Chicago Labor Day parade in Pullman had a special meaning for two remaining rail car workers living in the South Side neighborhood.
“I’m happy they didn’t forget us guys who live in Pullman,” said Alfonso Quiroz, 88, who has lived in the neighborhood his entire life. “And I’m really proud to be representative of the union and Pullman Standard,” saying the United Steelworkers of America, Local Union No 3281 still pays their pensions.
His brother, father-in-law and his father-in-law’s uncle were also Pullman workers.
“They taught me to do windows, floors, help build the cars from the ground up … we learned from the old-timers,” said Ray Quiroz, 86, who rode with his brother in a large black, vintage convertible. “We support the union and what it represents.”
A daughter who also lives in Pullman, Julie Quiroz, came with them. She was only 4 when they went on strike in 1977, when Pullman merged into Pullman Standard, but remembers her dad and uncle participating.
“I remember what it meant to us as a family, Julie Quiroz said. “We have a weekend, paid vacation … those are things everyone who has a job can relate to and you can tie that back to what happened here in Pullman.”
The main organizer of the second annual parade, from 107th Street to 112th Street along Cottage Grove Avenue, was the Chicago Federation of Labor.
But other organizations and individuals helped, including the Pullman National Historical Park, National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, Historic Pullman Foundation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Labor History Society, Friends of Labor, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Chicago 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale.
An Eddie Fest after the parade at Arcade Park and Pullman Park featured food, music and an Illinois Department of Natural Resources vintage baseball game between the Blue Island Brewmasters and the Lemont Quarrymen. Rangers offered free trolley tours of the national park and community.
“Chicago is the hometown of the labor movement,” said Bob Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “Workers are a part of the fabric and culture of Chicago.”
Chris Sealey represented his Painters Union, District Council 114, Local 1332, in the parade.
“They gave me a skill I can give back to the community with,” Sealey said, pointing out unions gave disadvantaged people a chance to move up.
Elizabeth Reid came with her three children, Collette and Wren, 7, and Simone, 1.
“I grew up in a union home,” said Reid, who has a union job, as does her husband. “I always have been taught the value of labor and that’s what I want to impart on my kids.”
Robert Montgomery, executive director of the Historic Pullman Foundation, said it was fitting the parade was held in the neighborhood.
“Chicago is a huge labor/union town,” said Montgomery. “It permeates our politics, everything we do in life.
“I believe unions are the catalyst of good labor practices in general,” he said.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.