Thousands In Michigan Join Labor Day Marches, Bridge Walks

ST. IGNACE (WWJ/AP) — Under a light rain, Gov. Rick Snyder and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley led thousands of people in a Labor Day tradition, a 5-mile walk across the Mackinac Bridge.

Snyder wore a "Pure Mackinac" T-shirt and a baseball cap at the head of the line Monday. It's one of many events up and down the state to celebrate the holiday and unofficial end of summer.

"It's part of Pure Michigan, it's wonderful," Snyder said. "There are people who have been doing this walk for decades, it's really exciting to see. You meet some people who are 90 out doing this walk, it's amazing."

In a new twist, 84 athletes are swimming across the Straits of Mackinac to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

Bob Sweeney of the Mackinac Bridge Authority told WWJ Newsradio 950's Greg Bowman that an estimated 30,000 people walked across the five-mile span on Monday.

"That is about the exact same number that we had in 2014 and also 2013," Sweeney said. "In both of those years they were forecasting rain -- we didn't have any -- but that resulted in some lower numbers. In 2012, we had 45,000 walkers -- so it fluctuates year-to-year."

Meanwhile, the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO held its annual Labor Day march. Another union-organized parade is scheduled in Muskegon.

Michigan AFL-CIO president Ron Bieber said protecting prevailing wages is a top priority because there is an effort to repeal the law which guarantees union-scale wages and benefits on publicly funded buildings.

"If prevailing wages is repealed, what you're going to see is unscrupulous, out-of-state contractors coming in, lowballing bids and bringing in unskilled workers, frankly," Bieber said. "It's not what's in the best interest of the public.

The theme of Monday's Labor Day celebration in Detroit was "Labor, Faith and Community -- We are Family."

In spite of setbacks for labor in recent years, Chrysler worker Darren Davenport of United Auto Workers Local Seven said his faith has not been shaken.

"Even though the 'Right To Work' came, the labor movement is still strong," Davenport said. "As all of the workers move on, they pass along solidarity to the younger workers. It's their time."

After seeing the fate of the middle class, other union members believe the public is beginning to see the value in organized labor.

In Grand Rapids, Mayor George Heartwell led the 5-mile Grand Crossings walk over six Grand River bridges. Shorter bridge walks were held in smaller Michigan communities.

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