By: Tom Germuska, Jr.
Labor Citizen Editor
Turn to the back pages of this edition and you are bound to come across a few mentions of upcoming group outings to Cedar Point.
These family-focused gatherings happen almost every summer. And for some area unions, it represents an annual activity that goes back decades.
“It’s a long standing tradition for many unions across Ohio, especially the Greater Cleveland area,” said Tim Walsh, director of group sales for Cedar Point. “It’s a tradition that goes from generation to generation.”
He said it’s not uncommon to be dealing with a union representative setting up a summer outing, to hear a story about coming to the park as a child when his father or grandfather was responsible for coordinating a similar event.
Besides the discounts a group outing can offer, a key factor that keeps many people returning to Cedar Point year after year is the ever-changing line-up of bigger, faster, taller rides – many of which are built in conjunction with union trades from around Ohio.
“We are proud to find the highly skilled engineers and workers needed to build a world-class roller coaster … in our backyard,” said John Hildebrandt, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point.
Gerald Newsome is just one of the many union tradesmen who have worked on major projects at Cedar Point over the years. As a Journeyman Electrician of 20 years with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 129, Newsome has worked on every job at Cedar Point handled by Firelands Electric in the past decade.
“Cedar Point has strong ties with us and many other unions,” Newsome said. “They know they are getting quality work and jobs are done on time.”
According to Cedar Point officials, Firelands Electric provided the control wiring for the operation of the park’s newest coaster, GateKeeper, as well as its lighting, including the lights that illuminate the ride, station and walkway. The company has worked on other Cedar Point rides, including Maverick, maXair and SkyHawk.
The new GateKeeper roller coaster is the latest attraction that keeps fans returning to Cedar Point.
Newsome, who has taken multiple rides on all the coasters he helped build, admitted feeling a sense of pride when he returns to the park and can point out to family the different attractions that he helped build.
And with so many unions hosting group outings each summer it’s likely that Newsome isn’t the only union tradesman able to point out completed projects around the park.
Cedar Point’s Walsh declined to provide specifics related to the number of unions that schedule an annual pilgrimage to Sandusky to sample the bevy of roller coasters and other attractions, only calling it “substantial and important” to Cedar Point.
Besides discounted tickets, Cedar Point offers a variety of options for the groups to consider: from assorted beverages and catered meals to early admission opportunities.
“The key thing we want to provide is a day at Cedar Point that’s a great value,” Walsh said. “It’s a clean, safe environment for a day of family fun. And that won’t ever change.”