CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — Labor unions across Illinois are gearing up to celebrate working people this Labor Day with parades, rallies, and community gatherings — including a major event right in the heart of downtown Champaign.

The Champaign County Central Labor Council of the Illinois AFL-CIO, which represents over 10,000 local workers, will host its annual Labor Day Parade and Picnic on Monday, September 1, 2025. The parade will kick off at 11:00 a.m. at the corner of Chestnut and Main Streets, winding through downtown before ending at Washington and Walnut. Immediately afterward, the public is invited to a picnic at the newly renovated Neil Street Plaza.

This year’s Grand Marshal will be Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams, who will march alongside union members, labor leaders, and community advocates.

Organizers say the event is more than a celebration — it’s a call to action. Unions are also pushing back against recent national policies they say threaten worker rights, while highlighting gains made in Illinois, including protections for wages and workplace safety secured through state legislation.

With nearly one million union members statewide, Illinois remains a stronghold for organized labor, even as national leaders seek to roll back hard-fought protections.