Working Systems

What Working Systems does

Working Systems is an IT solutions firm headquartered in Olympia, Washington, that has developed and maintained software for labor unions since 1995. Operating as a worker-owned cooperative since 2019—with all employees being members of the Communication Workers of America—the company serves 500+ union locals across North America, managing data for more than one million union members. Its customer base spans major unions including IBEW, AFSCME, SEIU, UAW, SAG-AFTRA, NALC, UA, ILWU, MEBA, IBB, IUPAT, ATU, CWA, MMP, and the Writers Guild.

The company's core product is LaborPower, a Windows-powered desktop application built on a SQL/Firebird database architecture. It includes modules for Dues tracking, Dispatch, and Apprentice management, with deep integration to Microsoft desktop products (Email, Merge Letters, Excel). The company also offers LaborPower Express—the official IBEW membership and dues tracking software, jointly developed with the IBEW International Office to replace ICS-Windows—alongside 150+ integrated websites, a Business Agent Mobile App, and a suite of custom features including bulk email/texting, online dues processing, grievance tracking, and API integrations. Technology delivery is on-premise, requiring workstations on the same LAN as the server, which constrains deployment flexibility relative to cloud-native SaaS alternatives.

Working Systems derives revenue through annual subscription licensing of LaborPower software to union locals, recurring fees for website integration and hosting, paid add-ons for LaborPower Express (such as Bulk Email, Web-Based Dispatch, and Mobile App), and professional services including on-site custom training. LaborPower Express itself is distributed free to IBEW locals by the IBEW International Office, which contracts Working Systems for technical support—creating a freemium model where IBEW access generates support and add-on revenue rather than direct licensing fees. The company sells exclusively through direct, relationship-driven enterprise sales targeting union locals in North America, with no disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or headcount growth beyond a 1–10 employee operating base.

Name

Working Systems

Legal name

Working Systems Cooperative

Website

https://workingsystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Working Systems is a worker-owned cooperative that develops and supports LaborPower, a Windows-based union management software suite serving 500+ union locals and over one million members across North America, specializing in dues tracking, dispatch, and member management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Union Management Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

IT Support & End-User Computing (Helpdesk, Desktop, M365/Google Workspace) (EDABAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Contractor Management Systems (CMS) & Workforce Management (BPACAGAE), Labor & Employment Administration (Workforce Regulation & Programs) (BPAIAAAM)

Keywords

• Union management software
• Labor union software
• Dues tracking software
• Member management systems
• Union dispatch software

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. LaborPower Software Licensing: LaborPower is sold directly to union locals by Working Systems Cooperative with annual support and licensing. Includes software updates, security patches, and enhancements. Distinct from LaborPower Express which is free to IBEW locals.
2. LaborPower Express Add-Ons: Paid add-ons for LaborPower Express including Bulk Email & Texting, Online Dues Processing, Web-Based Dispatch, Address Verification, Member Districting, and Mobile Application. Revenue generated from feature add-ons to the free LPX platform.
3. Website Integration Services: Custom website development and deployment integrated with LaborPower database. 150+ websites deployed. Revenue from website development and ongoing hosting services.
4. Professional Services and Training: Custom training arranged at customer location for union locals. Technical support services via email and phone.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Working Systems develops and sells LaborPower, a Windows-powered desktop union management application serving 500+ union offices across North America, with modules for dues tracking, dispatch/job bidding, and apprentice management. It also offers LaborPower Express (the official IBEW membership/dues software co-developed with IBEW International), integrated custom websites (150+ deployed), the Business Agent Mobile App, paid add-ons, and supporting custom features and technical support services.

Product overview

Working Systems offers a unified suite of LaborPower® products designed for union management. The core platform consists of LaborPower® (a Windows desktop application) and LaborPower® Express (the official IBEW membership and dues tracking software that replaced ICS-Windows). These are supported by Website Integration services (150+ deployed websites for member self-service), the Business Agent Mobile App, and various add-on modules including Bulk Email & Texting, Online Dues Processing, Web-Based Dispatch, Address Verification, Member Districting, and Custom Features for specialized union operations. All products share the same database architecture and receive coordinated updates for security and functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LaborPower®: Flagship union management software suite supporting dues payments, dispatch, member management, grievances, contracts, and employer data for 500+ union offices across North America.
• LaborPower® Express
• LaborPower® Web Integration

Products and services

• LaborPower Flagship Windows-powered desktop application built on SQL/Firebird database architecture that powers 500+ union offices throughout North America, managing member data, contracts, grievances, employers, dues, dispatch, and apprentice tracking for unions including IBEW, AFSCME, ATU, CWA, NALC, SEIU, UA, UAW, SAG-AFTRA, Writers Guild, MMP, MEBA, IBB, ILWU, IUPAT, covering more than one million union members. Customizable components include Dues, Dispatch, and Apprentice.
• LaborPower Express Official IBEW membership and dues tracking software program co-developed with IBEW International Office, distributed free to all IBEW locals. Replaces the legacy ICS-Windows platform. Provides integration with Microsoft desktop products (Email, Merge Letters, Excel), document scanning and drag-and-drop storage, audit trails for member information changes, automatic recurring charges, payroll deduction data import, ID card scanning integration, and automated backups.
• Website Integration Fully integrated custom websites that work with the LaborPower database, enabling online dues payments, job bidding, out-of-work list sign-up, member information updates, and business rep mobile access. Over 150 highly customizable websites have been deployed across North America, with hosted infrastructure.
• LaborPower Express Add-Ons Paid enhancements available on top of the free LaborPower Express platform, including Bulk Email & Texting, Online Dues Processing, Web-Based Dispatch, Address Verification, Member Districting, and a Mobile Application for iOS and Android devices. Purchased via direct contact with Working Systems.
• Custom Features for LaborPower Suite of custom software tools and modules built around the LaborPower platform including Email and Text Blasts, Automated Reports, Registration and Attendance Tracking, Label and Envelope Printing, Grievances management, Communications with Stakeholders, Staff Task Assignment, Reminders, Political Action targeting, Go Paperless (scanning/drag-and-drop), Import Dues and Other Data, API integration with third-party software, and the Business Agent Mobile App.
• Custom Training and Technical Support Services Professional services including on-site custom training at the customer location for union locals, plus ongoing technical support delivered via toll-free phone lines and email for LaborPower, LaborPower Express, and LPX installations.

Named customers15 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• IBEW International OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership where IBEW International Office and Working Systems Cooperative jointly developed LaborPower Express, the official IBEW membership and dues tracking software. IBEW International Office owns the program and distributes it free to all IBEW locals. Working Systems is contracted to provide technical support and continue development. Replaces the previous ICS-Windows software.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Novi AMS: Novi AMS is an association management solution built on the SugarCRM platform, offering dues, events and member engagement for small and mid-sized associations. It is comparable to LaborPower in scope and target customer size, though delivered as a cloud SaaS rather than on-premise.
• YourMembership (by Community Brands): YourMembership provides association and member-based organization software including dues processing, member directories and event management. It is a broad-incumbent alternative that competes with Working Systems for small-to-mid union and association customers.
• Personify: Personify is an association and membership management platform (parent of Wild Apricot) serving mid-to-large associations and unions with integrated CRM, dues, events and learning. It competes with Working Systems at the larger-local end of the union market.
• Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud (NPSP): Salesforce's Nonprofit Success Pack and Nonprofit Cloud are widely used by labor unions for CRM, fundraising and member engagement. While much broader than LaborPower, Salesforce is the incumbent alternative large union locals consider when modernizing away from legacy on-premise systems.
• MemberClicks: MemberClicks provides association management software (dues, member database, events, website) targeting small-to-mid associations. It overlaps with Working Systems in the dues-tracking and member-management functionality that LaborPower delivers to smaller union locals.
• Springboard (by Aurasoft): Springboard is an association management platform offering member, event, dues and learning functionality. It is comparable to LaborPower for associations and unions seeking an integrated cloud-based system.
• Wild Apricot (by Personify): Wild Apricot is a widely adopted cloud-based membership management platform used by thousands of small associations and unions for dues, member portals and websites. It competes with Working Systems at the small-local end of the market where cloud-native delivery is preferred over on-premise LaborPower.

Emerging players

• CiviCRM: CiviCRM is an open-source CRM built specifically for nonprofits, associations and membership organizations, with constituent management, dues and event modules. It is an emerging, budget-friendly alternative to LaborPower for small union locals willing to self-host.

Direct peers

• Glue Up: Glue Up (formerly EventBank) provides all-in-one membership, event and dues management software purpose-built for associations and unions. It directly overlaps with LaborPower on dues, member database and member self-service functionality.
• Advanced Solutions International (iMIS): iMIS is a leading association and union management platform offering dues, membership, events and engagement functionality. It is the closest direct competitor to Working Systems' LaborPower suite for mid-sized and larger union and association customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/working-systems-cooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Working Systems