What IL AFL-CIO does

The Illinois AFL-CIO is a state-level labor federation and the official Illinois affiliate of the national AFL-CIO, headquartered at 534 S. Second St., Suite 200, Springfield, Illinois. It serves as the coordinating body for more than 1,500 affiliated unions across the state, providing a unified political and legislative voice for organized labor in Illinois. Its primary functional activities include administering the Committee on Political Education (COPE) endorsement process for federal, state, and judicial candidates, coordinating advocacy across Central Labor Councils and Building Trades Councils, and convening member engagement events such as the biennial convention and Workers' Memorial Day observances. Leadership comprises President Tim Drea and Secretary-Treasurer Pat Devaney, supported by an Executive Board and a small staff of approximately six employees.

The organization's "products" are political and advocacy services rather than commercial goods. Its core deliverables are COPE-ratified candidate endorsements, legislative positions, and organizing support for local labor councils. Revenue is generated through per-capita taxes and membership dues from affiliated unions; no specific dues schedule or financial figures are publicly disclosed. Geographic scope is restricted to Illinois, with no disclosed international or out-of-state ambitions. Digital presence is limited to a content website, email newsletter, and social media channels used for advocacy and member communications.

The federation maintains strategic alliances with several labor and community coalitions, including Climate Jobs Illinois, We Are One Illinois, the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation, and Hands Off Chicago, broadening its advocacy reach beyond traditional collective-bargaining issues into climate workforce, public transit, and community-labor organizing. Its 2026 activity calendar included the 2026 Convention, general-election endorsements announced on July 20, 2026, Workers' Memorial Day events on April 28, 2026, and the inauguration of new Mid-Illinois Labor Council officers on February 27, 2026. The organization is not a technology company; it does not develop proprietary software, AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or commercial products.

Name

IL AFL-CIO

Legal name

Illinois AFL-CIO

Website

https://ilafl-cio.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Illinois AFL-CIO is a state-level labor federation and Illinois affiliate of the national AFL-CIO that coordinates political endorsements, legislative advocacy, and organizing support for more than 1,500 affiliated unions across Illinois through Central Labor Councils and Building Trades Councils.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Federation

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation (BPADANAM)

Keywords

• Labor union federation
• Political endorsements
• Legislative advocacy
• Collective bargaining support
• Workers memorial observance

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

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

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Illinois AFL-CIO is a nonprofit state labor federation representing more than 1,500 affiliated unions across Illinois. It provides coordinated political candidate endorsements through its Committee on Political Education (COPE) process for federal, state, and judicial races, legislative advocacy on worker protection issues, organizational support for Central Labor Councils and Building Trades Councils, and hosts an annual state convention plus Workers Memorial Day observances statewide.

Product overview

Illinois AFL-CIO is a labor union federation representing over 1,500 affiliated unions in Illinois. The organization operates primarily as a membership advocacy body rather than a technology product company. Its digital presence consists of a website that publishes political endorsements, convention materials, legislative updates, and news related to the labor movement. The organization does not offer distinct commercial products or modules; its 'service' is the coordination and representation of union members through political education (COPE), legislative advocacy, and organizing support for Central Labor Councils and Building Trades Councils.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• COPE Political Endorsement Program Statewide candidate endorsement process coordinated through the Committee on Political Education (COPE), where delegates from affiliated unions recommend endorsements for federal, state, and judicial races, which are then confirmed by the Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board. For affiliated unions and working families seeking unified political representation.
• Legislative Advocacy Program State-level legislative advocacy on worker protection, collective bargaining rights, and union organizing issues, delivered on behalf of affiliated unions and Illinois working families.
• IL AFL-CIO Annual Convention Annual delegate convention of the Illinois AFL-CIO that sets labor policy resolutions, receives executive board reports, elects officers, and convenes exhibitors for the Illinois labor movement. For affiliated union delegates and stakeholders.
• Workers Memorial Day Observances Annual statewide Workers Memorial Day events on April 28 organized with local labor councils (e.g., the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor program in Alton) to honor fallen workers and advocate for workplace safety. For working families, union members, and community supporters.
• Central Labor Council Coordination Coordination and support for the network of Central Labor Councils across Illinois that organize local worker advocacy, community partnerships, and political engagement. For affiliated local labor councils and their member unions.
• Building Trades Council Coordination Coordination and support for Illinois Building Trades Councils that organize construction and building trades unions under the IL AFL-CIO umbrella. For affiliated building trades unions and their members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Endorsements cover federal, state, and judicial races across Illinois

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Climate Jobs IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on climate-related job creation and workforce transition issues in Illinois. Linked as an important resource on the IL AFL-CIO website.
• We Are One IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor alliance advocating for workers in Illinois. Linked as affiliated resource on IL AFL-CIO website.
• Labor Alliance for Public TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition dedicated to public transportation advocacy and worker interests in transit. Listed as partner on IL AFL-CIO website.
• Hands Off ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-labor coalition for Chicago area worker advocacy. Linked as important resource on IL AFL-CIO website.
• AFL-CIO (National)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational AFL-CIO federation. IL AFL-CIO is the state affiliate, with a link to affiliated unions directory on the national organization's website.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Change to Win: A national labor federation alternative to the AFL-CIO. Comparable as a competing national umbrella, with state-level organizing coalitions that overlap with IL AFL-CIO's value proposition.
• National Education Association: A national labor federation representing educators. Comparable to the AFL-CIO as a parallel national umbrella structure with state affiliates that conduct political endorsements and member advocacy.
• AFL-CIO (National): The national labor federation of which IL AFL-CIO is a state affiliate. Directly comparable as the umbrella organization governing state bodies, providing branding, training, and political coordination infrastructure.

Others

• Illinois State Rifle Association: A state-level membership advocacy organization that engages in legislative lobbying and political endorsements in Illinois. Structurally comparable as a state-level advocacy body, though operating in a different policy domain.

Emerging players

• Illinois Education Association: A large Illinois-based union representing educators. Comparable as a state-level union organization engaged in legislative advocacy, political endorsements, and member mobilization.
• SEIU Illinois State Council: The state council of a major national union active in Illinois. Comparable as a state-level union body that engages in political endorsements and legislative advocacy alongside IL AFL-CIO.
• AFSCME Illinois Council 31: The largest public-sector union affiliate in Illinois. Comparable as an Illinois-based union with significant political and legislative influence that participates in COPE-style endorsement processes.

Regional players

• Chicago Federation of Labor: A major regional labor council within Illinois. Comparable as a local labor-council counterpart to IL AFL-CIO's statewide advocacy, with overlapping affiliate base and political activity in the Chicago metro.

Direct peers

• Wisconsin AFL-CIO: A neighboring state-level AFL-CIO federation with the same structure, mission, and COPE-based political endorsement process. Highly comparable in scope, scale, and operating model.
• Michigan AFL-CIO: Another Midwest state AFL-CIO federation. Operates the same affiliate-network, COPE endorsement, and council-based advocacy model, making it a structurally comparable peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ILAFLCIO
• Facebookfacebook.com/ILAFLCIO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/il-afl-cio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IL AFL-CIO