AFSCME

What AFSCME does

AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) is the largest public-sector labor union in the United States, representing approximately 1.4 million working and retired members across hundreds of occupations including nurses, corrections officers, child care providers, sanitation workers, library and museum staff, and EMS personnel. Founded in 1932 and headquartered at 1625 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., the union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and operates through a federated structure of state councils and local affiliates (e.g., AFSCME Ohio Council 8, AFSCME Council 31 in Illinois, AFSCME Maryland Council 3, AFSCME Local 1004 in Utah, AFSCME Local 370 in Illinois, AFSCME Colorado). The international union is led by President Lee Saunders and Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride.

AFSCME's core offering is collective bargaining representation and worker advocacy rather than technology products or software. Member-facing resources include AFSCME Advantage (discounts and benefits), Student Debt Map (loan-forgiveness navigation), Scholarships, the AFSCME Member Card, the Never Quit Service Award program, the Union Wage Calculator, and the I AM Story Podcast. Strategic initiatives include the Cultural Workers United campaign (50,000+ cultural-sector workers), Staff the Front Lines recruitment, and the AFSCME PEOPLE political action fund.

Revenue is generated primarily through member dues (subscription/recurring model with monthly billing cadence), the amount of which varies by local and state affiliate and is not publicly disclosed. The union's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: workplace organizing campaigns recruit new members, while large-scale day-of-action events (e.g., the 'No Kings' rally drawing 30,000+ participants in D.C.) and coalition partnerships build political and bargaining power. Marketing channels span the AFSCME.org website, email newsletters, organic social, podcasts and video, national rallies, earned media, and the PEOPLE political action fund.

Name

AFSCME

Legal name

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

Website

https://afscme.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

AFSCME is the largest U.S. public-sector labor union, representing 1.4 million working and retired public service employees across hundreds of occupations. Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., it provides collective bargaining, member benefits, and political advocacy through affiliated state councils and local unions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Representation

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Compliance & Employment Law Risk Management (Local Labor Law, Tax, Statutory) (BPACAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Employer of Record (EOR) Services (BPACAHAA), Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration (BPACAHAL)

Keywords

• Labor union representation
• Collective bargaining services
• Public employee advocacy
• Union membership benefits
• Workplace organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: AFSCME generates revenue through membership dues paid by its 1.4 million members. These dues fund union operations, organizing campaigns, political advocacy, and member benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) is the largest public services employees union in the United States, representing more than 1.4 million working and retired public service members across hundreds of occupations including nurses, corrections officers, child care providers, sanitation workers, and cultural sector workers. The union provides collective bargaining representation, legal advocacy, political action through AFSCME PEOPLE, and member benefits programs including discounts, scholarships, education, and resources like the Student Debt Map.

Product overview

AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) is a labor union providing member representation and advocacy services, not a technology product company. The organization offers a suite of member benefits and resources including AFSCME Advantage (discounts and benefits), Student Debt Map (loan forgiveness resources), Scholarships, Education & Training programs, and the AFSCME Member Card. AFSCME also produces media content including the I AM Story Podcast and Union 411 video series. Key initiatives include the Cultural Workers United campaign (50,000+ cultural sector workers), Staff the Front Lines recruitment initiative, and the AFSCME PEOPLE political action fund. The union provides tools like the Union Wage Calculator and recognition programs like the Never Quit Service Award. The organization's primary offering is collective bargaining representation and worker advocacy rather than technology products or software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AFSCME PEOPLE: The union's political action fund that supports candidates fighting for workers' rights
• Staff the Front Lines
• Cultural Workers United
• I AM Story Podcast

Products and services

• AFSCME Union Membership Core union membership offering 1.4 million public service workers collective bargaining representation, legal advocacy, contract negotiation, and workplace protections across hundreds of occupations.
• AFSCME Advantage

Quantifiable outcome

• Unionized workers make nearly $9,000 more per year than non-union workers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and national.

• Protect Utah Workers CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Coalition of Utah public service workers including AFSCME members that gathered over 320,000 signatures (twice the required number) to force a veto referendum on anti-union legislation HB 267, leading to its repeal.
• Los Angeles Labor UnionsregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2025AFSCME worked with three major labor unions in Los Angeles to secure agreements that averted civil service layoffs in the city's Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget, resolving a crisis sparked by a nearly $1 billion deficit.
• AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025AFSCME is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the United States. The union participates in joint legislative campaigns such as the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act.
• Labor Union Coalition (UWUA, USW, IAMAW, AFT, CWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025AFSCME joined with major labor unions including AFL-CIO, UWUA, USW, IAMAW, AFT, and CWA to support the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act, legislation to eliminate tax incentives encouraging offshoring.
• AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2025AFSCME and AFGE have filed joint lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's Fork Directive and other attacks on federal workers. The unions have partnered on legal challenges to protect civil service workers and collective bargaining rights.
• Democracy ForwardcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDemocracy Forward is a national legal organization representing AFSCME in federal lawsuits challenging the Trump-Vance administration's termination of public health grants and other attacks on workers.
• Cultural Workers UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFSCME's Cultural Workers United campaign has grown to over 50,000 members working within premier museums and beloved libraries nationwide, organizing cultural sector workers.
• Free DCregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerFree DC partnered with AFSCME for the 'No Kings' day of action rally, with Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of Free DC, speaking at the event.
• Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan WashingtonregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerDr. Laura Meyers, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan Washington, spoke at the No Kings rally representing thousands of patients who depend on healthcare services.
• Common DefensenationalGTM or Marketing PartnerNaveed Shah, Political Director of Common Defense, spoke at the No Kings rally representing veterans and military families affected by federal policies.
• State Democracy Defenders FundcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState Democracy Defenders Fund represented public service unions including AFSCME in lawsuits challenging unlawful mass federal firings and DOGE's access to government data.
• Altshuler Berzon LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm representing AFSCME and other unions in legal challenges against federal worker terminations and administrative actions.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art WorkersregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum workers who went on strike for nearly three weeks and reached a fair deal after AFSCME support, serving as an organizing model for cultural workers.
• AFSCME Maryland, Council 3regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearly 5,000 state supervisors employed by the State of Maryland voted to join AFSCME Maryland, Council 3 after three weeks of voting.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE): AFGE represents 750,000+ federal and D.C. government employees. AFSCME and AFGE are direct partners in joint litigation against federal actions and represent overlapping categories of public-sector workers facing the same political headwinds.
• United Auto Workers (UAW): UAW represents 400,000+ workers in automotive and related sectors. It is a comparable peer as a major AFL-CIO-affiliated union with similar organizing scale and political advocacy infrastructure.
• United Steelworkers (USW): USW represents 850,000+ members across manufacturing, health care, and public-sector roles. It is a comparable peer given its AFL-CIO affiliation and participation in joint legislative campaigns like the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act.
• National Association of Government Employees (NAGE): NAGE represents federal, state, and local government employees across the U.S. and is a direct co-litigant with AFSCME on multiple federal worker lawsuits, sharing similar membership and bargaining structures.
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT): AFT represents 1.7 million members across education, healthcare, and public services, including public-sector workers. It is a closely comparable peer given its focus on public employees, collective bargaining, and AFL-CIO affiliation.
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU): SEIU is one of the largest labor unions in North America, representing nearly 2 million workers in healthcare, public services, and property services — directly comparable to AFSCME in serving public-sector and service workers with similar collective bargaining structures.
• Communications Workers of America (CWA): CWA represents 700,000+ workers in telecommunications, media, and public services. It is a direct co-litigant with AFSCME in federal labor litigation and shares comparable union structures.
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters: The Teamsters represent 1.3 million workers across transportation, logistics, and supply chains. Comparable to AFSCME as a major U.S. union with similar scale, dues-funded revenue, and focus on collective bargaining.
• UNITE HERE: UNITE HERE represents 300,000+ workers in hotels, gaming, food service, and related industries. It is a comparable peer as a major AFL-CIO union focused on service-sector collective bargaining and worker advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• AFL-CIO: AFL-CIO is AFSCME's parent federation representing 60+ affiliated unions and 12.5 million workers nationally. Comparable as the broader umbrella organization under which AFSCME operates and through which it coordinates political action.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afscme
• Facebookfacebook.com/afscme

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFSCME