America’s working people didn’t just fire up the grills on Labor Day this year; they lit up the streets. Across the nation, more than 1,000 events unfolded — from parades and picnics to rallies and protests — uniting working people in a bold display of solidarity.

In Los Angeles, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler joined the California Labor Federation at their 46th Annual Labor Solidarity Parade & Picnic, asking attendees: “Are y’all ready to take on the greedy CEOs and billionaires?”

In Philadelphia, Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond led the 38th Tri-State Labor Day Parade, barreling through South Philly for the first time—and afterward, the union celebration moved into full festival mode with booths, information, and community firepower.

And in New York City, the country’s largest and oldest Labor Day parade filled Fifth Avenue with members and their families from more than 200 unions. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joined the New York City Central Labor Council as the “It’s Better in a Union” bus capped its nationwide tour—rolling alongside 100,000 union members marching through midtown Manhattan. Leading the historic spectacle were Co-Grand Marshals Rich Maroko of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and Terri Carmichael Jackson of the WNBPA, joined by AFT President Randi Weingarten, LIUNA’s Brent Booker, and RWDSU-UFCW’s Stuart Appelbaum.

Meanwhile, in Nashville, thousands of workers braved the rain for the 12th annual Labor Day Parade and Celebration. More than 30 unions, community allies, and elected officials marched through downtown before gathering at Walk of Fame Park. As Central Labor Council President Vonda McDaniel put it: “In a time when workers’ rights are under attack both at the federal and state level, Middle Tennessee workers and their allies came together … to show we are fighting for each other and our union.”

And the list goes on—union leaders from AFGE, AFSCME, and AGMA hit the road in Detroit, Phoenix, Cincinnati, and beyond—showing up for working people everywhere.

Tasked with “Taking Back Labor Day,” American Labor Unions did the work. This wasn’t your grandma’s Labor Day. Yes, there were cookouts—but there were chants too. Far from being a sleepy holiday, it became a statement of collective strength: reminding everyone that working people—not billionaires—are who keep this country running.

Thank you to all of the unions and their members that shared photos with the AFL-CIO.