What DC37 does

District Council 37 (legal name: District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO) is a private labor union founded in 1944 and headquartered at 125 Barclay Street in New York City, operating as an autonomous affiliate of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and the AFL-CIO. The union represents approximately 150,000 active members and 89,000 retirees across 62 affiliated local unions organized into five field divisions (Education & Libraries; Non-Profit & Private Sector; Parks/Cultural & Higher Education; Professional & Healthcare; State/Authorities & Administrative), covering over 1,000 distinct job titles in New York City's public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

DC 37's product surface is built around collective bargaining representation plus an integrated benefits portfolio administered through wholly owned shared-services entities. Core offerings include the DC 37 Health & Security Plan (medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, disability, and death benefits administered through partners OptumRx, Delta Dental, Aetna/SilverScript, and AdvantageCare Physicians); the DC 37 Education Fund (tuition reimbursement up to $1,500/year, civil service test prep, and the Ed Fund Academy learning management system, a Docebo SaaS-based platform launched in June 2025 with web and Go.Learn mobile access); the Municipal Employees Housing Program (since 2005); the Child Care Trust Fund (launched October 2025, providing up to $500/year licensed care reimbursement and up to $250/year informal care reimbursement); and Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS). Member services are delivered through a decentralized network of division offices, 62 local unions, and a self-serve member portal at dc37portal.dc37.net.

DC 37's revenue model is subscription/recurring in nature, funded primarily through a per capita tax paid by affiliated local unions (basic rate $18.20/month for regular employees and $9.55/month for part-time hourly employees as of July 1998, with additional per capita tied to negotiated pay increases) and employer contributions to benefit trust funds (predominantly from the City of New York, agencies, and cultural institutions). The union employs a community-led go-to-market motion centered on local organizing campaigns, political action via DC 37 Votes, and grassroots member engagement across heritage, women's, and professional committees.

Name

DC37

Legal name

District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

Website

https://dc37.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

District Council 37 is New York City's largest labor union, representing 150,000 active members and 89,000 retirees across 62 local unions and over 1,000 job titles in public, private, and nonprofit sectors, delivering collective bargaining and an integrated benefits portfolio including health, education, housing, legal, and child care services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Dues/Per Capita Tax: DC 37 collects per capita tax from affiliated local unions. As of 1998, basic per capita tax is $18.20 per month for regular employees and $9.55 per month for part-time hourly employees, plus additional per capita based on negotiated pay increases.
2. Member Benefits Trust Fund Contributions: Contributions made by employers (City of New York, agencies, cultural institutions) to DC 37 Health & Security Plan and other benefit trust funds on behalf of represented employees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DC 37 is a labor union that provides collective bargaining representation and a portfolio of negotiated member benefits (health, education, housing, child care, legal, counseling) to 150,000 active members and 89,000 retirees across 62 affiliated local unions in New York City's public, nonprofit, and private sectors. The union collects per capita taxes from locals and employer contributions to benefit trust funds, then disburses services such as the DC 37 Health & Security Plan, the Education Fund with Ed Fund Academy LMS, the Municipal Employees Housing Program, the Child Care Trust Fund, and Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS).

Product overview

DC 37 (District Council 37) is New York City's largest public employee union representing 150,000 members and 89,000 retirees. The union offers a comprehensive member benefits portfolio including the DC 37 Health & Security Plan (medical, dental, vision, prescription, disability, death benefits), DC 37 Education Fund with Ed Fund Academy learning management system, Municipal Employees Housing Program, Child Care Trust Fund, and Municipal Employees Legal Services. The union is affiliated with AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and represents workers across 62 Local unions in five divisions covering public, private, and nonprofit sectors in over 1,000 job titles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Member Portal Online portal for DC 37 members to access their accounts, union services, and benefits information.
• DC 37 Health & Security Plan Comprehensive health benefits program including medical insurance, prescription drug coverage (OptumRx), dental (Delta Dental, up to $1,700 annual maximum), vision, audiology, disability benefits, and death benefits for active and retired members and their dependents.
• Personal Service Unit (PSU) Confidential individual counseling, information referrals, advocacy, and support services provided by New York State licensed social workers for active members, retirees, and their adult dependents.
• DC 37 Health Center State-of-the-art health center in Lower Manhattan at 115 Chambers Street providing audiology, dental, and primary care services to eligible DC 37 members and retirees, operated by AdvantageCare Physicians (ACPNY).
• DC 37 Education Fund Education benefit program offering test prep for civil service exams, tuition reimbursement up to $1,500 per year, scholarships, and access to Ed Fund Academy learning management system with courses in labor education, career development, ESL, computer training, and basic education.
• Ed Fund Academy Online learning management system (powered by Docebo SaaS) for DC 37 Education Fund classes and programs, available via web browser and Go.Learn mobile app on iOS and Android.
• Municipal Employees Housing Program Housing assistance program established in 2005 providing guidance for mortgage pre-approval, educational workshops, first-time homebuyer resources, and access to affordable housing opportunities through NYC Housing Connect.
• Child Care Trust Fund Child care reimbursement benefit effective October 2025 providing up to $500 per year for licensed care (daycare, group family daycare, summer camp) and up to $250 per year for informal care from relatives or neighbors.
• Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS) Legal services provided to eligible DC 37 public sector members, including assistance with real estate closings and other legal matters.
• Local Union Representation Collective bargaining representation, advocacy, and member services delivered through 62 Local unions organized into five field divisions (Education & Libraries, Non-Profit & Private Sector, Parks/Cultural & Higher Education, Professional & Healthcare, State/Authorities & Administrative), covering over 1,000 job titles.
• NYCE PPO Health Plan Premium-free NYC Employees PPO health plan for City workers, pre-65 retirees, and their dependents, jointly offered by EmblemHealth and UnitedHealthcare, with zero premiums, expanded mental health providers, and lower out-of-pocket costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000 active members and 89,000 retirees represented
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC 37 is affiliated with AFSCME, AFL-CIO, one of the largest public employee unions in the United States with over 1.6 million members. AFSCME granted the charter to District Council 37 in 1944. DC 37 participates in AFSCME conventions and benefits from the federation's resources and advocacy at the federal level.
• City University of New York (CUNY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC 37 Education Fund partners with CUNY institutions including the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) for labor certificate and degree programs, and various CUNY colleges for ESL, computer training, and career development courses. CUNY DAYS advisement connects members to educational opportunities.
• CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC 37 Education Fund partners with CUNY LaGuardia for Artificial Intelligence Foundations, Data Analytics Certificate, and Getting Started with AI courses as part of the decentralized education catalog.
• CUNY Queens CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CUNY Queens College for Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word courses offered through the DC 37 Education Fund's decentralized catalog.
• CUNY City College/CWEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC 37 partners with CUNY City College/CWE for AutoCAD, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel Expert, and Microsoft Office Professional certification training.
• CUNY Hostos Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for English as a Second Language (ESL), Microsoft Excel Expert, and Microsoft Office Certificate Program through CUNY Hostos.
• Delta DentalcoreTechnology or IntegrationDelta Dental provides dental insurance coverage for DC 37 members through the Delta Dental NY Select Network (in-state) and Delta Dental PPO Network (out-of-state). The plan provides up to $1,700 annual maximum benefit per eligible participant.
• OptumRxcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptumRx administers the DC 37 Health & Security Plan prescription drug benefit, providing bulk coverage for generic, brand, and specialty medications for active and pre-65 retirees.
• Aetna/SilverScriptcoreTechnology or IntegrationAetna/SilverScript provides Medicare Part D drug coverage for DC 37 over-65 retirees as part of the Health & Security Plan benefit.
• City of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC 37's primary employer partner. Through collective bargaining agreements with the City, DC 37 represents workers across 1,000+ job titles in various city agencies including Education, Health + Hospitals, Environmental Protection, Parks, Housing Authority, and more.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Broad incumbents

• United Auto Workers (UAW): Large industrial labor union with a comparable mix of collective bargaining, member benefit trusts, and political action programs; a broad incumbent reference point for a union of DC 37's scale and organizational complexity.
• AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees): DC 37's parent federation with 1.6 million members nationally; directly comparable as a public-sector labor union representing state, county, and municipal employees with similar collective bargaining, benefit trust, and political action functions at national scale.
• AFT (American Federation of Teachers): National union representing 1.7 million teachers, paraprofessionals, and public employees; comparable as a major public-sector labor federation with similar collective bargaining, professional development, and political action models, particularly relevant for DC 37's education-related locals.
• Unite Here: Represents hospitality, food service, and related public/private sector workers with comparable benefit trust structures (especially health benefits); useful comparable for DC 37's mix of public-sector and nonprofit/cultural-institution members.

Direct peers

• 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East: Major NYC-based healthcare workers union representing hospital and home-care employees across NYC H+H and private institutions; directly comparable for DC 37's healthcare-sector locals (Local 420, Local 768, Local 2507) and its municipal hospital bargaining footprint.
• CWA District 1 (Communications Workers of America): Represents telecommunications, public-sector, and media workers in the NYC/NY region; comparable as a large union local providing collective bargaining, benefits administration, and political action to a similar public/private membership mix.
• Teamsters Local 237: NYC-based Teamsters local representing sanitation workers, school cafeteria employees, and other city agency titles; directly comparable as a large NYC public-sector local union with overlapping membership in DEP, sanitation, and education-related titles.
• SEIU 32BJ (Service Employees International Union, 32BJ): Major New York City-area union representing property service, security, and building maintenance workers; directly comparable as a large NYC-based private/public sector union delivering collective bargaining, health benefits, and member services to a similar demographic.
• CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association): New York State public employee union representing state, local, and private-sector workers; directly comparable as an AFSCME-affiliated New York public-sector union with overlapping bargaining units and similar benefit trust structures.

Regional players

• NYSUT (New York State United Teachers): Statewide New York union representing K-12 and higher education employees; comparable as a New York public-sector union with similar political action and benefit structures, particularly relevant for DC 37's Local 372 (NYC Board of Education Employees).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/distcouncil37
• Facebookfacebook.com/district-council-37-131724126872982
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dc37

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries8 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 DC37