Chicago Federation of Labor

What Chicago Federation of Labor does

The Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) is a nonprofit labor federation chartered by the American Federation of Labor on November 9, 1896, and is the third-largest central labor council of the AFL-CIO. It serves as the umbrella organization for approximately 300 affiliated local unions representing roughly 500,000 union members across virtually every industry and trade in Chicago and Cook County, from airline pilots to zookeepers. Its core activities span workplace organizing support, legislative and political advocacy at the city, county, and state levels, candidate endorsement processes, and community-based services delivered through partnerships with United Way of Metro Chicago, HIRE360, and the AFL-CIO.

The CFL's product surface is programmatic rather than technology-based: HIRE360 connects community members to union construction apprenticeships with barrier reduction funds exceeding $200,000 deployed; CFL Workforce & Community Initiative and Community Services coordinate job placement and strike assistance; the CFL Store and Proud Union Home campaign sell branded merchandise; Federation News is published quarterly since 1919; and education programs run via the University of Illinois Labor Education Program and DePaul University Labor Education Center. Member benefits are distributed through Union Plus (financial, travel, entertainment, automotive discounts) and CFL-specific scholarships (William A. Lee Memorial, $2,000 × 10 annually).

The revenue model is funded by dues and affiliation fees from its 300 affiliated unions, supplemented by ancillary program revenue (merchandise sales, event registration such as the May Day 5K Run & Walk, and donation-supported scholarship programs). The go-to-market is community-led: grassroots organizing, political endorsements, lobbying, and partnership-driven workforce development. With a stated staff of 15-20 and no technology platform, the CFL operates as a federation service organization rather than a commercial enterprise, and financial details are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Chicago Federation of Labor

Legal name

Chicago Federation of Labor

Website

https://chicagolabor.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Chicago Federation of Labor is a nonprofit AFL-CIO central labor council, founded in 1896, that represents approximately 300 affiliated unions and 500,000 union members across Chicago and Cook County through organizing, political advocacy, and workforce development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Federation Services

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor Relations & Union Management Training (EDABAIAK)

Keywords

• Labor union federation
• Workforce development programs
• Collective bargaining support
• Political advocacy services
• Member benefit programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Dues and Affiliation Fees: The CFL operates as a central labor council of the AFL-CIO, funded through dues and affiliation fees from its 300 affiliated unions representing 500,000 union members. Revenue supports organizing efforts, political action, legislative advocacy, and workforce development programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Chicago Federation of Labor is a nonprofit central labor council of the AFL-CIO that serves as an umbrella federation for approximately 300 affiliated unions representing 500,000 workers across Chicago and Cook County. It provides organizing assistance, legislative and political advocacy, workforce development, member benefits (scholarships, community services), and solidarity-building events for workers and their families.

Product overview

The Chicago Federation of Labor operates as an umbrella organization for Chicago and Cook County's labor unions, representing approximately 300 affiliated unions and 500,000 union members. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of programs and services centered on workforce development, member benefits, education, political action, and community engagement. Key offerings include HIRE360 (workforce development), the CFL Workforce & Community Initiative, Union Plus benefits, CFL Community Services in partnership with United Way, CFL Store merchandise, Proud Union Home campaign brand, Federation News quarterly publication, May Day 5K Run & Walk and Labor Day Parade events, Rosetta Daylie Woman of the Year award, workplace organizing services, vaccination clinics, labor education programs (University of Illinois and DePaul), scholarship programs (William A. Lee Memorial and Union Plus), political action initiatives, and a Union Products and Services directory. The organization functions as a central labor council of the AFL-CIO rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Proud Union Home: A campaign developed by the Chicago Federation of Labor to help union members and supporters show their pride in America's labor movement and middle class. Includes official merchandise such as yard signs, garden flags, doormats, and t-shirts.
• CFL Workforce & Community Initiative

Products and services

• HIRE360 Workforce Development Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000 union members represented across 300 affiliated unions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way of Metro ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CFL partners with United Way of Metro Chicago on community services, strike assistance for union members, and workforce development initiatives. The CFL's Community Services department works with United Way to connect union members to services during work stoppages and provide community volunteer opportunities.
• HIRE360coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFL was instrumental in creating HIRE360, a workforce development partnership connecting community members to union construction careers. CFL Secretary Treasurer Don V. Villar serves on the HIRE360 Board. The program recruits and trains community members for union apprenticeship tests and provides barrier reduction funds for tools and application fees.
• AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chicago Federation of Labor is the third-largest central labor council of the AFL-CIO, receiving its charter on November 9, 1896. The AFL-CIO provides national coordination, Executive Council representation, and access to programs like Union Privilege and Union Plus benefits.
• Construction Unions, General Contractors, and Developers (HIRE360 Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIRE360 is a unique partnership of construction unions, general contractors and developers with programs connecting community members to construction careers and growing diverse construction firms. Nearly 75 diverse contractors work with HIRE360.
• University of Illinois Labor Education ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFL partners with University of Illinois Labor Education Program offering Basic and Advanced Certificates in Labor Studies for union leaders, members, and activists.
• DePaul University Labor Education CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFL supports the DePaul University Labor Education Center which provides labor education, trainings, public events, and consultations for unions, worker centers, and community organizations.
• Union Plus (AFL-CIO)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAFL-CIO created Union Privilege in 1986 to provide union members consumer benefits. CFL promotes Union Plus benefits including discounts on financial services, travel, entertainment, and automotive to union members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Los Angeles County Federation of Labor: The largest central labor council in California, structurally analogous to CFL as a regional AFL-CIO federation representing hundreds of affiliated unions across the LA basin. Directly comparable by structure, governance, and mission — the natural geographic counterpart on the West Coast.
• New York City Central Labor Council: AFL-CIO central labor council covering NYC, mirroring CFL's role as the umbrella federation for a major U.S. metro. Both organizations aggregate local affiliates, run political-endorsement processes, and serve as the unified voice for organized labor in their respective cities.

Broad incumbents

• California Labor Federation: Statewide AFL-CIO federation representing 1,200+ affiliated unions and 2.1 million California workers. CFL's Chief of Staff Andrea Chaudron and Communications Director Jazmine Reyes both worked at the California Labor Federation, illustrating its role as a structural peer operating at the state level above CLCs like CFL.
• New York State AFL-CIO: Statewide federation representing 3,000+ affiliated unions and 1 million New York workers. Parallel structure to Illinois AFL-CIO at a larger scale; directly comparable in mission, funding model (per-capita dues), and service portfolio.
• Change to Win: Coalition of major unions (SEIU, Teamsters, UFCW, etc.) functioning as an alternative labor federation to AFL-CIO. Operates a parallel political and organizing infrastructure at the national level; relevant peer for understanding competitive dynamics in the labor-federation space.
• AFL-CIO: National parent federation of which CFL is the third-largest central labor council. Provides overarching coordination, Executive Council representation, and shared programs (Union Plus). Broader in scope than CFL but directly comparable as a labor-federation entity.
• Michigan AFL-CIO: Statewide labor federation in a historic union stronghold. Comparable governance, member services, and political-action focus to Illinois AFL-CIO; provides a benchmark for how CFL's parent state body operates in a comparable industrial-midwest context.
• Illinois AFL-CIO: Statewide labor federation covering Illinois, sitting one tier above CFL in AFL-CIO's structure. CFL operates within Illinois AFL-CIO's state footprint; both organizations pursue overlapping legislative, political, and organizing objectives across the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chicagolabor
• YouTubeyoutube.com/chicagolabor
• Facebookfacebook.com/chicagolabor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/42814643
• Instagraminstagram.com/chicagolabor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Chicago Federation of Labor