Union members gathered in South Philadelphia on Labor Day to celebrate workers in the trades, health care, schools and other industries, while labor leaders and elected officials turned their attention toward the November midterm elections. With Election Day eight weeks away, politics intertwined with the annual celebration as Democrats made their pitch to union members and a Republican state senator talked about his party’s relationship with organized labor. “Labor Day is what working people deserve. Election Day is about electing leaders who will deliver it,” AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus said. DeJesus also addressed the economic and political issues she said are affecting union families. “Right now working families are paying more for groceries, more for gas, more for housing while billionaires keep getting richer and politicians in Washington are more concerned about building ballrooms, about renaming lakes and making it harder for people to vote for the change we seek,” DeJesus said. In Pa., Democrats are trying to flip several U.S. House and state Senate seats as they seek to change control of chambers in Washington and Harrisburg. “With you we’re going to put an end to this foolishness. Let’s get everyone out on Nov. 3 because when we have a majority we know what to do with it,” U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon said. Ryan Boyer, head of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, also emphasized the midterms when asked how organized labor was working to mobilize voters. “The midterms are most important for this country. Think about it, we have a Republican party that is going so far away from workers that now they can’t even hide it. So, our message to them is let’s take our country back let’s take our commonwealth back,” Boyer said. But the gathering wasn’t attended only by Democrats. State Sen. Joe Picozzi, a Republican from Northeast Philadelphia, attended the event despite hearing speakers advocate for electing Democrats. “I’m a Republican from Philadelphia. I’m very, very used to this, very used to this. But I think it speaks to a Republican party that’s changing, that’s evolving. It’s recognizing the power, the value and the importance of fighting for labor and standing with our actual constituents. My district is almost entirely folks who are in unions, folks who are represented here and I’m here for them and with them,” Picozzi said. About 11% of workers in Pa. are union members which is lower than California and New York but higher than the national rate. The Labor Day gathering also came just days after one of Philadelphia’s most recognizable and powerful former labor leaders, John Dougherty, was released from federal prison. President Donald Trump commuted Dougherty’s sentence on corruption and embezzlement charges so Dougherty could care for his wife, who needs round-the-clock care. Dougherty, widely known as “Johnny Doc,” previously held the Building Trades leadership role now held by Boyer. “Listen the president did what he did. I don’t want anyone incarcerated but the labor movement has moved forward. We have great leadership at Local 98, we have great leadership at the building trades, I would like to think, and we have great leadership in organized labor,” Boyer said. Asked whether Dougherty could have another role in organized labor in Philadelphia or Pa., Boyer said that would be up to Dougherty. “I mean he has to figure that out. I’m sure he wants to reconnect with his family now but that’s something for him to figure out,” Boyer said. State Sen. Sharif Street also discussed Trump’s decision to commute Dougherty’s sentence. “I’m glad John Dougherty gets to be with his family. His wife is dying of cancer. I would never want to, I have, I’ve consistently advocated for leniency in people coming home and the pardon process here. I have consistently advocated for people being able to reconnect with their families and the strength that comes from that. He’s been a devoted husband and I think that’s what he’s focused on right now,” Street said. Boyer was also asked about Dougherty no longer having to pay $1.6 million and how labor viewed that development. “That’s the IBEW internal politics. I don’t like to get in those things and as I said before we’ve moved forward. Chapters in history they come and they go and that’s not to take away any of the good work that he’s done but we’re moving forward. We don’t go backward, we go forward,” Boyer said. IBEW Local 98 declined to comment on Dougherty. Dougherty’s lawyer has said he would not be able to hold office with a union as a convicted felon. There had also been questions about whether Dougherty would attend the Labor Day festivities in South Philadelphia, but he was not seen at the event. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less