MLK Labor
MLK Labor is the AFL-CIO-affiliated central labor council for King County, Washington, representing 150+ affiliated unions and 220,000+ workers across aerospace, healthcare, retail, and public sectors. It coordinates organizing, political endorsements, and operates workforce platforms including UNtemp and UnionHiringHall.org.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1888
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What MLK Labor does
MLK Labor, legally the Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council, is the central body of labor organizations in King County, Washington, affiliated with the National AFL-CIO. Founded in 1888 as the West Central Labor Union, the organization represents more than 150 affiliated unions and 220,000+ workers across diverse industries including aerospace (IAM 751 representing Boeing workers), healthcare (SEIU 1199NW), retail (UFCW 3000), hospitality (UNITE HERE Local 8), and public sector unions. The council operates under democratic governance with elected delegates, an Executive Board, and three-year leadership terms, and is staffed by approximately 10 employees at its Seattle Labor Temple headquarters.
MLK Labor's core operations span four functions: political endorsements and candidate support, organizing and member recruitment, workforce development, and community coalition building. Its technology-enabled product portfolio includes UNtemp (a union-backed dispatch platform for temporary work launched June 2026 in partnership with The Workers Lab), UnionHiringHall.org (a virtual hiring hall funded by the City of Seattle, King County, and the U.S. Department of Labor), and the People's Organizing Center (an umbrella organization formed January 2026 that houses the Seattle Presidents' Organizing Initiative and the MLK Worker Innovation Center). The People's Organizing Center has coordinated 21 local unions to organize 18,000+ new members since January 2020. Strategic initiatives include the FIFA Labor Standards Agreement for the 2026 World Cup and worker cooperative incubation through the MLK Worker Innovation Center.
The organization's business model relies on per capita taxes collected from affiliated unions based on their membership size, supplemented by grants from public entities (City of Seattle, King County, U.S. Department of Labor) and partnership resources from organizations like The Workers Lab and Movement Action Fund. As a 501(c)-style non-profit labor federation, MLK Labor does not charge workers directly for services and does not have traditional equity ownership; it is collectively governed by its delegate body. Since 2021, Executive Secretary-Treasurer Katie Garrow has overseen $80B+ in infrastructure funding wins for union-built projects, 16,000 workers unionized through multi-union organizing, and the election of 100+ union members to public office in South King County.
MLK Labor firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MLK Labor
- Legal name
- Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council
- Website
- https://mlklabor.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1888
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MLK Labor is the AFL-CIO-affiliated central labor council for King County, Washington, representing 150+ affiliated unions and 220,000+ workers across aerospace, healthcare, retail, and public sectors. It coordinates organizing, political endorsements, and operates workforce platforms including UNtemp and UnionHiringHall.org.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MLK Labor industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Labor Union Council Services
- NAICS
- Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930), Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Business Services, Nec (7389)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Works & Municipal Services Labor Staffing (BPACAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Workforce Data, Labor Market Intelligence (LMI) & Program Evaluation (EDAAAOAN), Employment & Labor Law (BPAHAAAD)
Keywords
Where MLK Labor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MLK Labor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Per Capita Taxes from Affiliated Unions: MLK Labor represents over 150 affiliated unions. As a central labor body affiliated with the AFL-CIO, the organization collects per capita taxes from member unions based on their membership size to fund operations, political activities, and organizing programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
MLK Labor product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MLK Labor (Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council) is the central body of labor organizations in King County, Washington, affiliated with the AFL-CIO. It represents more than 150 affiliated unions and 220,000+ workers, coordinating labor organizing, political endorsements, collective bargaining support, and operating workforce development platforms including a virtual union hiring hall and a union-backed temporary work dispatch platform.
Product overview
MLK Labor operates as a central body of labor organizations in King County, WA, offering technology-enabled workforce development and worker organizing programs. Its core product portfolio includes UNtemp (a union-backed dispatch platform for temporary work), the People's Organizing Center (an umbrella organization housing innovative worker organizing programs), UnionHiringHall.org (a virtual hiring hall for union jobs), and the MLK Worker Innovation Center (a nonprofit incubator for worker cooperatives). The organization functions as a labor council representing over 150 unions and 220,000 workers, focused on building worker power through organizing, political action, and consumer advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- People's Organizing Center: Umbrella organization for workforce development and worker organizing innovation, including Seattle Presidents' Organizing Initiative and MLK Worker Innovation Center
- UNtemp
- UnionHiringHall.org
Products and services
- UNtemp
Quantifiable outcome
- Organized 18,000+ new union members since January 2020 through the People’s Organizing Center
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MLK Labor
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MLK Labor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MLK Labor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- The Workers LabcoreThe Workers Lab provided designers and engineers who partnered with the MLK Worker Innovation Center to develop UNtemp, a union-backed dispatch platform for temporary work. This web platform connects unionized cooperative members with MLK Worker Innovation Center administrative staff and paying clients.
- SEIU 6 Property Services NWcoreSEIU 6 represents the Seattle Janitors Cooperative, one of the first two cooperatives operating under the UNtemp platform for temporary work associated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Seattle Event Services CooperativecoreOne of the first two worker cooperatives operating under the UNtemp platform, providing structure for workers to coordinate jobs, pool resources, and sustain work collectively for temporary events.
- UFCW 3000majorUnited Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 collaborated on the UNtemp initiative and received acknowledgment for guidance and partnership in redefining temporary work standards.
- IATSE 15majorInternational Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 15 partnered on the UNtemp initiative for worker protections during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- FIFA Local Organizing CommitteemajorThe FIFA Local Organizing Committee partnered with MLK Labor to develop a first-of-its-kind Labor Standards Agreement for the 2026 World Cup in Seattle.
- King County Councilmember Teresa MosquedamajorCouncilmember Mosqueda provided guidance and partnership as part of the coalition working to ensure temporary workers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are held to high labor standards.
- Movement Action FundminorMovement Action Fund contributed resources and partnership to the UNtemp initiative and worker-centered temporary employment standards.
- City of SeattlemajorThe City of Seattle provided funding for the Virtual Hiring Hall workforce development project, which later rebranded as UnionHiringHall.org.
- King CountymajorKing County co-funded the Virtual Hiring Hall workforce development initiative alongside the City of Seattle.
- National AFL-CIOcoreMLK Labor is affiliated with the National AFL-CIO, the central labor organization in the United States representing more than 13 million working people. The AFL-CIO provides national coordination, resources, and shared policy frameworks.
- Washington State Labor CouncilcoreMLK Labor works with the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) on shared legislative priorities, political campaigns, and statewide labor initiatives.
- Puget Sound Labor AgencycoreThe Puget Sound Labor Agency is labor’s food bank serving the community for over 40 years, providing assistance to families, individuals, seniors and disabled clients through food bank, family support services, community services, and union retiree resources.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MLK Labor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- New York City Central Labor Council: AFL-CIO central labor council coordinating 300+ affiliated unions representing 1.5 million+ workers in New York City. Direct peer because it performs the same umbrella coordinating, organizing, and political mobilization role for a dense urban membership base.
- Los Angeles County Federation of Labor: One of the largest AFL-CIO central labor councils in the U.S., representing 300+ unions and 800,000+ workers in LA County. Direct peer because it performs the same central labor council function in a different major metropolitan region, with comparable organizing, political, and workforce development activities.
- Washington State Labor Council (WSLC): The state-level central labor body in Washington, affiliated with AFL-CIO. Direct peer because it operates one tier above MLK Labor in the same federation structure, coordinating 600+ affiliated unions statewide on the same organizing, political endorsement, and policy advocacy functions.
- San Francisco Labor Council: Bay Area AFL-CIO central labor council representing 150+ affiliated unions and 150,000+ workers. Direct peer due to comparable coastal urban structure, focus on tech-sector and service-worker organizing, and similar hiring hall and workforce development activities.
- Chicago Federation of Labor: An AFL-CIO central labor council representing over 300 affiliated unions in Cook County, IL. Direct peer due to identical central body structure, political endorsement process, and member organizing focus in a major U.S. metro region.
Broad incumbents
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU): A national labor union representing 2 million+ healthcare, property services, and public sector workers. MLK Labor's affiliated local SEIU 1199NW is a major council member, and SEIU's national organizing model directly informs the People's Organizing Center's collaborative multi-union approach.
- UNITE HERE: A national labor union representing 300,000+ workers in hotels, gaming, food service, and related industries. One of MLK Labor's largest affiliated unions (via UNITE HERE Local 8, whose president sits as MLK Labor's Vice President). Comparable in worker organizing and contract negotiation functions but at national union scale rather than central council scale.
- AFL-CIO (National): The national federation that MLK Labor is directly affiliated with, representing 13 million working people across 60+ national unions. Broad incumbent because it operates the umbrella coordination framework MLK Labor participates in, providing national policy, branding, and resource allocation.
Peers
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MLK Labor social profiles
Digital presenceMLK Labor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MLK Labor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
MLK Labor subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
MLK Labor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MLK Labor M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MLK Labor
What does MLK Labor do?
MLK Labor (Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council) is the central body of labor organizations in King County, Washington, affiliated with the AFL-CIO. It represents more than 150 affiliated unions and 220,000+ workers, coordinating labor organizing, political endorsements, collective bargaining support, and operating workforce development platforms including a virtual union hiring hall and a union-backed temporary work dispatch platform.
Is MLK Labor a public or private company?
MLK Labor is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was MLK Labor founded?
MLK Labor was founded in 1888. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MLK Labor based?
MLK Labor is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does MLK Labor make money?
One revenue line is on record: per Capita Taxes from Affiliated Unions.
Who are MLK Labor's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are New York City Central Labor Council, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Washington State Labor Council (WSLC), San Francisco Labor Council and Chicago Federation of Labor. Broad incumbents are Service Employees International Union (SEIU), UNITE HERE and AFL-CIO (National). Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) is listed as a peer.
Does MLK Labor have an API?
No public API is recorded for MLK Labor.
What industry is MLK Labor in?
MLK Labor's product category is Labor Union Council Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAEAM, Public Works & Municipal Services Labor Staffing, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAN, Workforce Data, Labor Market Intelligence (LMI) & Program Evaluation. Its NAICS code is 813930 and its SIC code is 7361.