Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), AFL-CIO

What Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), AFL-CIO does

Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), AFL-CIO is a U.S. labor union founded in 1967 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, that represents migrant and seasonal farm workers — primarily H-2A guest workers from Mexico — in collective bargaining, grievance resolution, and labor-rights advocacy. It operates a distinctive tri-country footprint with general offices in Toledo, Dudley (North Carolina), and Monterrey (Mexico), deploying field organizers to labor camps 4–5 nights per week during the April–October agricultural season. FLOC is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO and the International Union of Food, Agriculture, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco, and Allied Workers' Association (IUF), and is led since founding by President Baldemar Velasquez with Secretary Treasurer Christiana Wagner and Vice Presidents Justin Flores and Cruz Díaz Montalvo.

FLOC's primary "products" are collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and member services rather than technology platforms. Its flagship CBA with the North Carolina Growers Association covers over 9,000 H-2A workers across 700+ farms and includes grievance procedures, heat-safety guidelines (codified via the 2006 Mesa/Ordas Rule and expanded unilaterally in 2024), and freedom-of-association protections. Additional CBAs cover Battleboro Produce (2024) and Mt. Olive Pickle Company (post-five-year boycott), with historical memoranda of understanding at Campbell's, Heinz, Vlasic, and Dean's Foods. FLOC also runs the Reynolds/British American Tobacco accountability campaign (including the Boycott VUSE consumer action with 40+ demonstrations), the FLOC Homies youth program, the Black/Brown Unity Coalition, and an annual Songs for Justice benefit concert. The organization has no proprietary technology stack; merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, CDs, art prints) is sold via email order and donation pages.

FLOC's revenue model rests on three streams: (1) recurring member dues, which are explicitly characterized as insufficient because members are seasonal and low-wage; (2) tax-deductible donations routed through its partner Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice (CMWJ); and (3) modest one-time merchandise sales. Funding is supplemented by support from allied organizations including the AFL-CIO, IUF, Oxfam America, Solidarity Center, and United Steel Workers. The union reports operating status as active, with a 2025 Impact Report and ongoing organizing campaigns, and operates with a lean staff of approximately 17.

Name

Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), AFL-CIO

Legal name

Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO

Website

https://floc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), AFL-CIO is a U.S. labor union founded in 1967 that represents primarily H-2A guest workers in collective bargaining and labor-rights advocacy. It negotiates CBAs with grower associations covering thousands of farmworkers across the Southern United States and operates cross-border from offices in Ohio, North Carolina, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture & Seasonal Field Labor Staffing (BPACAEAJ)

Keywords

• Farmworker labor organizing
• Collective bargaining agreements
• H-2A guest worker advocacy
• Agricultural union representation
• Migrant worker rights

Headquarters

HQ city

Toledo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Dues: FLOC's primary revenue comes from dues paid by member farm workers. Members have limited wages and work only seasonally, making dues base insufficient to sustain and expand operations.
2. Donations and Support: Tax-deductible donations are accepted through partner organization Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice (CMWJ). Donations from supporters have enabled expansion of work and member support programs.
3. Merchandise Sales: FLOC sells merchandise including t-shirts ($15 regular, $10 students), hoodies ($75), bumper stickers ($1), hats ($20), tote bags ($15), water bottles ($5), and music CDs ($20). Proceeds support union activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FLOC is a labor union that organizes and represents migrant and seasonal farm workers—primarily H-2A guest workers from Mexico—through cross-border field organizing, negotiating and enforcing collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with grower associations such as the North Carolina Growers Association covering 9,000+ workers on 700+ farms, and processing workplace grievances and complaints. The union supplements dues revenue with charitable donations channeled through the Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice and sells branded merchandise via the FLOC Shop to support operations, while running supply chain accountability campaigns (e.g., Boycott VUSE, Reynolds campaign) targeting major tobacco and food companies.

Product overview

Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), AFL-CIO is a labor union focused on farmworker rights advocacy and organizing. Rather than a unified technology product or platform, FLOC offers a collection of services including merchandise through the FLOC Shop, advocacy materials and campaign resources for the Reynolds Campaign and other organizing initiatives, member resources and benefits, volunteer and action programs, and field organizer employment opportunities. The organization operates cross-border organizing programs, community organizing, international organizing, and campaigns against corrupt contractors, with a primary focus on improving conditions for H-2A guest farmworkers in the tobacco industry supply chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FLOC Homies: FLOC's youth program focused on youth leadership and community organizing
• Black/Brown Unity Coalition (BBUC)

Products and services

• FLOC Shop Online and email-order merchandise storefront selling FLOC-branded items including union-made 100% cotton t-shirts (regular $15, student $10), navy blue hoodie-jackets ($75), bumper stickers ($1), hats ($20), tote bags ($15), water bottles ($5), music CDs by FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez and the Aguila Negra Band ($20), and limited edition art prints by Arturo Bustos ($50). Proceeds support FLOC's organizing campaigns and member programs. Orders are placed via email ([email protected]) with payment by cash, check, or through the Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice online donation page.
• FLOC Union Membership and Collective Bargaining Representation Founding membership service of FLOC: seasonal and migrant farm workers (primarily H-2A guest workers from Mexico) join the union by paying dues, gaining access to collective bargaining agreement coverage including grievance procedures, heat protections, workplace injury compensation, freedom to change growers, and legal defense against retaliation. Coverage is negotiated at the enterprise level with grower associations such as the North Carolina Growers Association (covering 9,000+ workers on 700+ farms). Members also receive access to annual leadership training in Monterrey, Mexico, the FLOC Women's Committee, the FLOC Homies youth program, and union democracy at the Constitutional Convention.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heat protection guidelines covering 9,000+ farm workers in Southern United States
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, historical, campaign target, key employer partner and international.

• International Union of Food, Agriculture, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco, and Allied Workers' Association (IUF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013FLOC has been affiliated with IUF for over a decade. IUF is an international federation of trade unions across the globe. FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez was elected to serve as alternate on the IUF Executive Committee in 2023. IUF supports FLOC's global fight against BAT and coordinates solidarity with unions worldwide.
• AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1967FLOC is a proud affiliate of AFL-CIO, the largest labor federation in the United States. AFL-CIO provides organizing support, solidarity, and coordinates national labor campaigns. In 2014, AFL-CIO sent 30 organizers to North Carolina to support FLOC's freedom of association campaign. FLOC leadership participates in AFL-CIO delegations including border solidarity visits.
• Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice (CMWJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMWJ is FLOC's partner organization that handles tax-deductible donations. CMWJ supports FLOC operations and organizing campaigns. Together they co-host annual Songs for Justice benefit concerts and coordinate member support activities.
• Oxfam AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam America provided support for FLOC's annual leadership training programs in Monterrey. Oxfam's research and human rights reports on NC tobacco farmworker conditions have documented abuses that support FLOC's campaigns.
• Solidarity Center of the AFL-CIOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Solidarity Center provided support for FLOC's annual leadership training events. The Center supports workers' rights programs and international labor solidarity initiatives.
• Campbell's SouphistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLOC achieved memorandum of understanding with Campbell's Soup that codifies freedom of association with the right to form unions. This was a landmark agreement in farmworker organizing.
• Mt. Olive Pickle CompanyhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLOC won collective bargaining agreement with Mt. Olive Pickle Company after successful five-year boycott. The agreement followed organizing campaign that removed Mt. Olive pickles from Kroger, Meijer, and Foodtown shelves in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
• Vlasic PickleshistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLOC achieved memorandum of understanding with Vlasic Pickles that established freedom of association rights for farm workers in their supply chain.
• H.J. Heinz USAhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLOC achieved memorandum of understanding with H.J. Heinz USA that codifies freedom of association with the right to form unions for farm workers.
• Dean's FoodshistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLOC achieved memorandum of understanding with Dean's Foods that established freedom of association rights for farm workers in their supply chain.
• Black/Brown Unity Coalition (BBUC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLOC co-founded and leads the Black/Brown Unity Coalition, a coalition working for racial justice and police reform. BBUC signed a historic Code of Conduct agreement with Toledo Police Department in 2017. Coalition includes NAACP, Latins United, and FLOC Homies youth program.
• A. Philip Randolph InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing ally in labor solidarity. Organized consumer letter-writing campaigns to convenience stores (7-Eleven) to pressure Reynolds American regarding farmworker conditions.
• United Steel WorkersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSent five organizers to participate in FLOC's Camp Solidarity program in 2013. Contributing to farmworker organizing campaigns and solidarity actions.
• Farmworker JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident Bruce Goldstein participated in FLOC's Camp Solidarity visit and has been integral to farmworker rights advocacy. Supports FLOC campaigns and policy initiatives.
• NC AFL-CIOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Carolina AFL-CIO State Federation passed resolutions in support of FLOC's Reynolds campaign. Committed to community actions and organizing support.
• SC AFL-CIOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Carolina AFL-CIO State Federation passed resolutions supporting FLOC's campaign. Committed to take part in community actions and organizing efforts.
• British American Tobacco (BAT)campaign targetOthersFLOC campaigns against BAT and its subsidiary Reynolds American Tobacco for human rights abuses in tobacco supply chain. BAT earns over $30 million in revenue annually. FLOC attended BAT's Annual General Meeting in London 2023 to address shareholders.
• Reynolds American Tobaccocampaign targetOthersPrimary campaign target. FLOC demands Reynolds sign agreement guaranteeing freedom of association to farmworkers in their supply chain. Reynolds is largest tobacco company in North Carolina.
• North Carolina Growers Association (NCGA)key employer partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFLOC negotiated collective bargaining agreement with NCGA covering over 9,000 H-2A workers on 700+ farms. This is the primary employer relationship under which FLOC provides workplace protections.
• Unite the Union (UK)internationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond largest union in the United Kingdom. Met with FLOC during BAT campaign activities in London. Agreed to aid in applying pressure to British American Tobacco in the UK.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Solidarity Center (AFL-CIO): AFL-CIO affiliate supporting workers' rights internationally. Directly funds FLOC's annual leadership training in Monterrey and is a partner in cross-border labor solidarity, making it a comparable adjacent/infrastructure organization.

Direct peers

• Farmworker Justice: National advocacy and policy organization focused on farmworker rights, immigration, and H-2A reform. Collaborates directly with FLOC (President Bruce Goldstein has participated in FLOC's Camp Solidarity) and pursues overlapping campaigns on labor conditions and policy.
• Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW): Worker-based farmworker organization operating in Florida that has pioneered Fair Food Program agreements with major food retailers. Directly comparable to FLOC as a worker-driven organization pressuring supply chains and major food brands.
• Alianza Nacional de Campesinas: National coalition of farmworker women and allies addressing gender-based violence and worker rights in US agriculture. Comparable as a peer organization representing the same agricultural worker constituency FLOC organizes.
• United Farm Workers (UFW): The most prominent US farmworker labor union. UFW and FLOC both organize agricultural workers around collective bargaining, fair wages, and immigration rights; UFW focuses more heavily on California while FLOC anchors in NC/Ohio/Mexico, but the two are the closest direct peers in farm-labor organizing.
• PCUN (Oregon's Farmworker Union / Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste): Oregon-based farmworker union organizing primarily Latino/a tree-planting and nursery workers. Shares FLOC's community-led, member-driven model focused on agricultural labor rights and immigrant worker advocacy in a regional context.

Broad incumbents

• United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW): Large AFL-CIO affiliate representing workers across food processing, retail, and agriculture. Overlaps with FLOC in food-supply-chain worker representation but covers far broader sectors and is not a farmworker-only union.
• AFL-CIO: FLOC's national labor federation parent and largest US labor body. Comparable as the umbrella organization under which FLOC operates and from which it draws organizing support during major campaigns.
• International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF): Global union federation with 407 affiliates in 126 countries. FLOC is an IUF affiliate and its President now sits on the IUF Executive Committee — comparable as the international federation connecting FLOC to global supply-chain pressure campaigns.

Emerging players

• Migrant Justice (Vermont, 'Milk with Dignity'): Vermont-based farmworker organization that created the Milk with Dignity program with Ben & Jerry's. Comparable as a worker-led organization enforcing supply-chain accountability for dairy farmworkers, though focused on a different sub-sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SupportFLOC
• Facebookfacebook.com/FarmLaborOrganizingCommitteeFLOC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/farm-labor-organizing-committee-alf-cio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), AFL-CIO