AFSCME Council 13

What AFSCME Council 13 does

AFSCME Council 13 is the Pennsylvania regional council of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) International, founded in 1973 and headquartered at 150 South 43rd Street in Harrisburg. It represents more than 65,000 public employees across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, organized into local unions covering state agencies (including PennDOT, DCNR, Corrections, and the Gaming Control Board), county governments, municipalities, K-12 school districts, healthcare and social service facilities, PASSHE universities, and a retired member chapter (RPEP Chapter 13) with over 11,000 participants. The union's core activity is workplace organizing through authorization card campaigns and representation elections, followed by collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance representation, and legislative advocacy through its Political and Legislative (PAL) fund.

The organization's product surface is a member-services ecosystem rather than a technology platform. Core digital products include MemberLink (an online member portal for account management and PAL enrollment) and the AFSCME eCard mobile app (a digital union membership card for Apple and Android). Supplementary member-facing offerings include the Council 13 Connection digital newsletter, a scholarship program ($500-$1,500 awards for members' children and grandchildren), the Solidarity & Support Hub mutual-aid platform, the AFSCME License Plate specialty plate program, and a Steward Resources toolkit for contract enforcement. Benefits administration is delivered through two trust entities: the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF) for Commonwealth employees and the AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund (founded 1974), which covers 73 employers and 5,500+ subscribers with prescription, vision, dental, and disability benefits through partners Delta Dental, NVA, Benecard, and Standard Insurance.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through membership dues set at 1.5% of base pay (pre-overtime), with no initiation fees, billed as a recurring subscription against each member's paycheck. A portion of dues is rebated to local union treasuries, and secondary revenue streams include PAL contributions, license plate fees ($46 standard, $182 personalized), and ancillary benefits-fund premiums. Council 13 is governed democratically by its membership as a private nonprofit and operates seven regional and field offices across Pennsylvania (Harrisburg HQ, Duncansville, Plymouth Meeting, Pittsburgh, Franklin, New Columbia, and Wilkes-Barre) to deliver in-person organizing, training (steward, officer, secretary-treasurer), and representation services statewide.

Name

AFSCME Council 13

Legal name

AFSCME Council 13

Website

https://afscme13.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AFSCME Council 13 is funded through membership dues paid by represented public employees. Dues are calculated as 1.5% of base pay (before overtime), with no initiation fees. A portion of dues is returned to local unions' treasuries for local meetings, education, and leadership conferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AFSCME Council 13 is a labor union that represents more than 65,000 public employees across Pennsylvania through collective bargaining, contract negotiations, grievance representation, and workplace advocacy. The union organizes new workplaces, negotiates master agreements covering wages, benefits, and working conditions, and provides members with supplemental benefits, scholarships, political engagement, and member-only digital services. Membership is funded through recurring dues of 1.5% of base pay.

Product overview

AFSCME Council 13 is a public service union representing over 65,000 Pennsylvania workers, offering a member-facing ecosystem centered on MemberLink (the core member portal) and the AFSCME eCard App (mobile membership card). The union provides supplementary benefits through the Health & Welfare Fund and supports member development via scholarships and the Council 13 Connection newsletter. Additional services include the Political And Legislative (PAL) fund for political engagement, AFSCME License Plate program, Steward Resources for contract enforcement, and the Solidarity & Support Hub for member mutual aid. The portfolio operates as a unified member services platform rather than a modular software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MemberLink: Online portal for AFSCME Council 13 members to access their accounts, update information, and engage with union services
• AFSCME eCard App
• PAL (Political And Legislative Fund)
• Council 13 Connection

Products and services

• MemberLink Online member portal providing AFSCME Council 13 members access to their accounts, PAL contributions, membership management, and eCard access. Members can sign up, update contact information, and engage with union services through the portal.
• AFSCME eCard App Free mobile application for Apple and Android devices that provides members with instant access to their digital union membership card and credentials, eliminating the need to wait for a physical card in the mail.
• Council 13 Connection Newsletter Digital newsletter publication providing news, updates, and union information to AFSCME Council 13 members, available in digital flipbook format.
• AFSCME Council 13 Scholarship Program Scholarship program providing $500 scholarships to undergraduate students who are children or grandchildren of AFSCME Council 13 members, with top performers eligible for $1,500 scholarships and one additional $500 award for graduate students.
• Political And Legislative (PAL) Fund Voluntary political and legislative fund enabling AFSCME members to contribute to support political candidates who are sensitive to maintaining vital public services and issues impacting AFSCME members.
• AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund Supplemental benefits program administering Prescription Drug, Vision Care, Dental Care, and Disability Insurance coverage for Council 13 members employed by counties, cities, and other political subdivisions. Founded in 1974, currently administers benefits for 73 employers covering more than 5,500 subscribers.
• Steward Resources Comprehensive resource library for union stewards including handbooks, grievance forms, disciplinary questionnaires, exchange of information sheets, and process guides for contract enforcement.
• AFSCME License Plate Program Specialty license plate program allowing AFSCME members to display union affiliation on Pennsylvania vehicle registrations for $46 (standard) or $182 (personalized), with proceeds supporting the PAL donation.
• Solidarity & Support Hub Member support platform connecting AFSCME members with opportunities to support fellow members facing personal hardship, organizing campaigns, contract fights, and strikes through various fundraising initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizing 3,000+ new members in recent years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AFSCME InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFSCME Council 13 is a regional council of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) International. AFSCME is the nation's largest and fastest growing public services employees union with more than 1.6 million workers and retired members. The International Union provides organizational support, resources, and governance for Council 13.
• AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFSCME is a proud member of The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the largest federation of unions in the United States with representation of over 11 million workers.
• PA AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe PA AFL-CIO is governed and comprised of local, national, and international unions. Formed in 1961, the PA AFL-CIO now serves 900,000 members and provides political engagement, convention participation, and labor solidarity for Pennsylvania workers.
• Retired Public Employees of Pennsylvania (RPEP) Chapter 13coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFSCME Council 13 is a strong supporter of retired members. The Retired Public Employees of Pennsylvania (RPEP) has its own member-run Chapter 13 with more than 11,000 members. RPEP members have many of the same member benefits as current AFSCME Council 13 members.
• Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF)coreOthersThe Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund administers healthcare benefits to eligible Commonwealth of Pennsylvania employees, retirees and their dependents. This is a key benefit provider for state employee members.
• AFSCME Health & Welfare FundcoreOthersThe Health & Welfare Fund administers healthcare benefits to many of AFSCME's eligible Non-State employees and their dependents. Founded in 1974, the fund presently administers benefits for 73 employers covering more than 5,500 subscribers. Benefits include Prescription Drug, Vision Care, Dental Care, and Disability Insurance programs.
• Clear Coalition (Coalition for Labor Engagement and Accountable Revenues)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Coalition for Labor Engagement and Accountable Revenues is made up of Pennsylvania unions representing over 1.1 million hard working Pennsylvanians united to fight for essential services and critical investments in Pennsylvania's state budget.
• Delta DentalminorOthersDelta Dental provides dental benefit services to AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund subscribers through the fund's dental benefit program.
• NVA (National Vision Administrators)minorOthersNVA provides vision care benefits including eye exams, glasses, contacts, and LASIK benefits to AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund subscribers.
• BenecardminorOthersBenecard administers prescription drug benefits for AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund subscribers.
• Standard Insurance CompanyminorOthersStandard Insurance Company insures both short-term and long-term disability coverage offered through the AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund.
• Willig, Williams & DavidsonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWillig, Williams & Davidson is a law firm providing workers' compensation legal services to AFSCME members. Their certified workers' compensation and union attorneys assist with benefits covering total disability, partial disability, specific loss, medical issues and loss of life.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Education Association (NEA): NEA is the largest labor union in the United States, representing public school employees nationwide. It is broadly comparable to AFSCME Council 13's education segment but operates at national scale with a much broader scope of professional and policy activities.
• PA AFL-CIO: PA AFL-CIO is the statewide labor federation serving 900,000 Pennsylvania union members, of which AFSCME Council 13 is an affiliate. It operates at broader scope — political engagement, convention coordination, and labor solidarity across all sectors — rather than direct worker bargaining.

Direct peers

• AFSCME Council 33: AFSCME Council 33 is the New Jersey state council of AFSCME International and is structurally identical to AFSCME Council 13. Both operate as state-level AFSCME councils organizing public employees, administering regional offices, and running member benefit programs.
• SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania: SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania organizes healthcare workers across Pennsylvania and directly competes with AFSCME Council 13 in the public healthcare segment. Both target nurses, aides, and technicians at state and county healthcare facilities under Pennsylvania labor law.
• AFT Pennsylvania: AFT Pennsylvania represents teachers, paraprofessionals, and school-related personnel across the state. It competes with AFSCME Council 13 for K-12 public school workers and uses the same collective bargaining framework under the Public Employee Relations Act.
• SEIU Local 668: SEIU Local 668 represents Pennsylvania state employees and is the most direct competitor to AFSCME Council 13 within the same state-employee bargaining units. Both unions organize and negotiate contracts under Pennsylvania's Public Employee Relations Act for the same pool of represented workers.
• Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA): PSEA represents public school employees across Pennsylvania and directly competes with AFSCME Council 13 in the K-12 school district segment. Both unions organize Pennsylvania public sector workers and negotiate collective bargaining agreements for school support staff and paraprofessionals.
• AFSCME Council 31: AFSCME Council 31 is the Illinois state council of AFSCME International and operates with the same governance, member services, and organizing model as AFSCME Council 13. It serves as a directly comparable peer at a similar scale across a different Midwestern state.
• AFSCME District Council 37: AFSCME DC 37 is one of the largest AFSCME locals in the United States, representing NYC municipal employees. It operates the same organizational model as AFSCME Council 13 — collective bargaining, member benefits administration, and direct representation services — at a much larger scale.

Others

• AFSCME International: AFSCME International is the parent union of AFSCME Council 13 and represents 1.6 million public employees nationwide. It is comparable as the governing national body that provides organizational support, branding, and resources to Council 13 and other state councils.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afscme
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/afscme
• Facebookfacebook.com/afscme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afscme-council-13

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AFSCME Council 13