ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete’s sanitation department is getting a facelift with a new building, along with a 20-foot sculpture.

The statue will honor the African American men who were at the forefront of the city’s largest sanitation strike nearly 60 years ago.

What You Need To Know

  • A new, 20-foot sculpture is being completed. It will honor the men who were part of St. Petersburg's sanitation strike nearly 60 years ago

  • During the strike sanitation workers fought together for better pay and better working conditions in 1968

  • The piece is expected to be completed in February

  • It will be located at the city's sanitation department in front of their new building once both are completed. The City of St. Petersburg will hold a formal ribbon cutting event for the new complex, including the presentation of public art on the property

During the strike in 1968, sanitation workers fought together for better pay and better working conditions. Historians said it was a time when racial tensions were high and equity for black residents was low.

Even with all of that against them, sanitation workers still stood up for what they believed in. And for that, they’re being honored at the sanitation complex.

The sound of welding and sparks flying isn’t what comes to mind for most when discussing protests, peace and the sanitation strikes of 1968. But artist Donald Gialanella is hoping it sparks the conversation once he’s done with the 20-foot statue.

“Everything starts with an idea,” he said. “I love this idea of a triumphant figure.”

The all-metal piece will honor the men who lead the sanitation strike.

“It’s kind of like an unknown history, hidden history of St. Pete and I feel very honored to bring it to the floor with this sculpture,” Gialanella said. “We had to go from a 3-D rendering in virtual space to reality. Which meant cutting over 200 pieces of polygons and rectangles which are ultimately fit together as a sculpture.”

He named the piece Oneness. 

“I think it’s important that the figure be round and visible from all sides,” he said.

It’ll be mounted on a massive base. “It’s 3/8 inch thick corten steel, which is a weathering steel,” said Gialanella.

Before the steel ring representing solidarity among sanitation workers is added to the sculpture, Gialanella has to finish the largest task of all. 

“We’re at the final hurdle. The head is going to be pièce de résistance of the piece,” he said.

The sturdy steel sculpture was inspected by an engineer and Gialanella said it can withstand the elements.

“So it’s gonna oxidize down to look like the base does. It’s that beautiful brown color,” he said. “I think I want people to be impressed enough to look into the meaning of the sculpture. I think it’s going to be a piece that can’t be ignored. If it’s something spectacular and unusual, I think people are gonna wanna delve into what’s behind it and the meaning of the sculpture.”

The sculpture is expected to be completed by February.

According to city records, the city commissioned Gialanella to make the sculpture for a total of $91,000.

The new sanitation complex was named after one of the leaders of the sanitation strike, Joseph E. Savage, and will include a building named after the sanitation department’s first ever black director, Benjamin Shirley.