She acknowledged Monday's parade would have had a far different feel had Alcoa moved forward last year with its plans to close the smelter at Massena's Alcoa plant.
Alcoa had announced in early November it planned to close the smelter at Alcoa West - a move expected to result in the loss of nearly 500 jobs in Massena - and would not move forward with a proposal to modernize and re-open the shuttered Alcoa East plant.
David LaCair, a member of Local 420-A who served as the last union president at the Alcoa East plant, told attendees at the recent Massena Democratic Caucus that Assemblywoman Russell was one of the first elected officials to contact union officials and offer a helping hand on the evening Alcoa made its announcement to shut down the smelter.
Assemblywoman Russell, pointing to the impact the loss of those 500 jobs would have had on the struggling North Country economy, said she immediately joined with other state and federal officials and leaders from organizer labor to fight to convince Alcoa to change its mind.
Just a few weeks later, two days before Thanksgiving, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Senator Charles Schumer were in Massena to announce Alcoa had agreed to keep the smelter open through at least March 2019.
"I wanted to make sure they knew I'm still here to stand with them. It's been a challenging time, and there is still challenging work to do. We need to stick together. I will continue to fight for these jobs and work to bring other jobs to the Massena plant in coming years. We will continue to work to convince Alcoa it is important to our national security to keep smelting aluminum in the United States," Assemblywoman Russell pledged.
She said the annual Solidarity Day parade sends an importance message about the value of employees receiving good pay and benefits for hard work.
"I was in Massena Monday to show my support for organized labor fighting for the middle class. These are the men and women manufacturing aluminum used in the transportation industry, keeping ships moving through the St. Lawrence Seaway as they carry products in and out of our cities along the Great Lakes, teaching our children, building our roads, bridges and infrastructure, keeping the power flowing to our homes and businesses and providing critical care for us when we are sick," Assemblywoman Russell said.
"They do challenging work, and it is important we understand how crucial they are to our local economy. The work they do justifies decent wages and benefits. It's also important to recognize the work organized labor does and has done over the years benefits all workers. The successes organized labor has won have benefitted all workers in areas like the 40-hour work week, a minimum wage and workplace safety. Whenever you see a victory for organized labor, it's a good day for all workers," she added.
United Steelworkers Local 420-A President Bob Smith stood between Assemblywoman Russell and Congressional candidate Mike Derrick as he addressed his union's membership outside the union hall prior to the start of Monday's parade.
He talked about the history of Labor Day and the passage of the Wagner Act in the mid 1930s that ushered in the modern union movement in the United States.
"This is a day we recognize labor and what labor has done for our families. This is a day we remember the sacrifices labor has made not only for of organized labor but also for the unorganized as well," Mr. Smith said.
"We've done a lot of work over the past year as you all know. I would say without organized labor we'd be in a tough spot right now. But we worked with our legislators, our politicians," he noted, referencing the work to keep the plant open last fall.
"Someone smarter than me once said there are two kinds of people in the world - those who work and those who don't. The same is true with politicians. There are some politicians who support labor and there are those who don't," Mr. Smith said, noting he was proud to be joined by Assemblywoman Russell and Mr. Derrick, two candidates who have proved their support for working men and women.
Ronald P. McDougall, president of the North Country's Central Trades Council, a United Auto Workers Local 465 retiree and co-chair of the the Solidarity Day event for much of its 36-year run, said participation in this year's event was similar to recent years.
When the first marchers walked in the first Solidarity Day parade in Massena over three decades ago, Alcoa had nearly 2,500 employees, Reynolds employed 800 workers and General Motors was home to 1,200 auto workers. Today, all that remains is just over 600 jobs at Alcoa.
But Mr. McDougall said even though the numbers are down, Massena remains a strong organized labor community.
"We had a lot of participants and a good crowd on the parade route, a crowd that that was very appreciative of organized labor in Northern New York. There was a positive response all along the parade route and at the picnic in Springs Park afterwards," he noted.
Mr. McDougall said Kathy Chase of Plattsburgh won the top prize, $10,000 in cash, in the annual Solidarity Day fundraiser. The winning ticket was sold Fridayevening by Massena businessman Real "Frenchie" Coupal.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell speaks to members of United Steelworkers Local 420-A prior to Monday's Solidarity Day parade in Massena. Assemblywoman Russell said Monday's event set the stage for her to have a conversation with her eight-year-old son about the role organized labor had played in the lives of working men and women, including those who are not union members.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
United Steelworkers Local 420-A President Bob Smith listens as Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell talks about two fellow Democrats that will be on the ballot this fall, Acting County Treasurer Renee Cole and Congressional candidate Mike Derrick. Assemblywoman Russell and Acting County Treasurer Cole marched with members of Local 420-A in Monday's Solidarity Day parade.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell chats with Jim Gurrola, a United Steelworkers Local 420-A, during the lineup for Monday's Solidarity Day parade in Massena.
Ernie LaBaff, far right, president emeritus of the Aluminum, Brick and Glass Workers International Union, addresses members of the United Steelworkers outside the Local 420-A union hall in Massena prior to the start of Monday's Solidarity Day parade. Pictured are (l-r): Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell, United Steelworkers Local 420-A President Bob Smith, Congressional candidate MIke Derrick and Mr. LaBaff. Assemblywoman Russell marched with members of Local 420-A in this year's Solidarity Day parade.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell poses for a photograph with Ben Murtagh and Billy Brown, incoming president and business manager for Local 2032 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Their terms begin on Oct . 1.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell visits with Billy Brown (l) and Ben Murtagh (r), incoming business manager and president for IBEW Local 2032.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell poses for a photo with members of Local 2032 of the IBEW that took place in Monday's Solidarity Day festivities in Massena.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell visits with Samuel D. Roberts. a former state assemblyman and currently commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Services. Mr. Roberts is a former General Motors employee and was an active member of United Auto Workers Local 465 during that time.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell stops in at a vegetable stand on South Main Street during her march in Monday's Solidarity Day parade in Massena. Her post-parade plans included canning a large quantity of tomatoes.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell chats with members of Local 910 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Monday at Springs Park following the Solidarity Day parade.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell talks with a student entering third grade this week during a stop to visit with the American Federation of Government Employees. She noted she had a son entering third grade and a son entering second grade.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell talks to Lynda Bage (l) and Sue Rau (r), both members of the North Country Grown Cooperative, about the farm-to-school pilot program in St. Lawrence and Jefferon counties.
Mark Patterson, president of the CSEA local representing the village of Massena's Department of Public Works employees, sells a fundraising ticket to Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell chats with Rollie Glaude, an IBEW Local 2032 retiree.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell waves to the crowd as she marches with members of Local 420-A of the United Steelworkers during Monday's Solidarity Day parade.
Kerrie French (r), president of the CSEA local at Massena Memorial Hospital, poses for a photograph with Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell during the Solidarity Day picnic at Springs Park in Massena.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell visits at the American Federation of Government Employees tent during the Solidarity Day picnic at Springs Park in Massena.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell chats with David and Margaret (Garner) Haggard during the Solidarity Day picnic at Springs Park in Massena.
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell poses for a photograph with PEF members that took part in Monday's Solidarity Day parade in Massena.g
