St. Louis_ In what has been a difficult year for many, thousands of union members, their families and others gathered downtown Monday morning for the annual Labor Day Parade.

With an anemic economy, an unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent and fears of a double-dip recession on the horizon, some found it difficult to be optimistic despite warm sunny skies.

Drew Hodai of Wentzville grew up in a union home. Grandparents on both sides were members. So was his dad.

"I was brought up on those beliefs,'' said Hodai, himself a union electrican for ten years. "Things were so good for so long."

But he worries about the future. He's watched the power of unions wane, building slow and management take a harder line against workers. He's been out of work 13 weeks already this year.

"You learn how to live differently," he said.

His wife, Brenda, is a union teacher. The couple have a two-and-a half-year-old son, Will, and another child on the way.

"I feel pretty secure," she said. "Right now."

Asked about the future, she's less certain.

"It's scary,'' she said. "I don't know. I don't think anybody knows."