TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC
Tompkins County Workers Center is a nonprofit labor advocacy organization founded in 2003 that provides free workers' rights services, wage theft advocacy, and union organizing support to low-wage workers in Tompkins County, NY, funded by donations, grants, and voluntary membership dues.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersIthaca, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC does
Tompkins County Workers Center Inc (TCWC) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit labor advocacy organization founded in 2003 and headquartered at 103 W. Seneca Street, Suite 301B, Ithaca, New York. The organization provides free, confidential workers' rights services to low-wage workers in Tompkins County, anchored by its Workers Rights Hotline (serving 450+ clients annually), wage theft advocacy (winning over $1.6M in judgments for 350+ workers since 2003), and union organizing support (assisting 700+ workers to form unions over 15 years). Its core products include the Workers Rights Handbook, Community Union Organizers (CUOs) leadership program, and the Countywide Living Wage Campaign advocating for a countywide minimum wage tied to the $25.08/hour living wage benchmark for 2026.
The organization operates the Living Wage Employer Certification Program (launched 2006), which has grown from 29 to 69 certified employers across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. It produces the annual Tompkins County Living Wage Report in partnership with the Cornell University Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) Co-Lab. Supporting resources include the Workers Rights Handbook, Restaurant Owners Manual, COVID-19 Worker Benefits Guidebook, Workers Compensation Guidebook, and a Service Learning in Social Justice program hosting interns from Cornell, Ithaca College, and TC3. The Community Union Organizers (CUOs) operates as a spinoff leadership group of retail and service sector workers and consumers.
TCWC's business model is donation- and grant-funded, with all core services provided free of charge to workers. Revenue streams include community donations, grant funding, an annual spring fundraising campaign, and voluntary membership dues (suggested at one hour of wages). The organization is affiliated with the AFL-CIO as a Workers Center affiliate, the national Jobs with Justice network, Living Wage for US, and is a member of the Upstate NY Workers' Center Alliance coalition spanning seven regional organizations. It does not operate a technology platform; distribution occurs through direct helpline access, community outreach and tabling, social media, and embedded university partnerships.
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC
- Legal name
- Tompkins County Workers Center Inc
- Website
- https://tcworkerscenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tompkins County Workers Center is a nonprofit labor advocacy organization founded in 2003 that provides free workers' rights services, wage theft advocacy, and union organizing support to low-wage workers in Tompkins County, NY, funded by donations, grants, and voluntary membership dues.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Labor Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)
Keywords
Where TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ithaca
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: The organization relies on donations from community members and grant funding to support operations. A spring fundraising campaign is conducted annually.
- Membership Dues: Optional membership dues are accepted, with suggested donation based on one hour of wages earned. Membership provides access to advocacy services and participation in campaigns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free services for all workers; optional membership dues |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tompkins County Workers' Center provides free workers rights advocacy, living wage promotion, and union organizing support to workers in Tompkins County, NY. Core services include a confidential Workers Rights Hotline handling 450+ cases annually, assistance recovering unpaid wages (over $1.6M recovered for 350+ workers since 2003), union organizing campaigns (700+ workers organized into unions), and a Living Wage Employer Certification Program that has recognized up to 69 local employers meeting Living Wage Guidelines.
Product overview
Tompkins County Workers' Center is a nonprofit labor advocacy organization that offers a suite of services focused on workers' rights and living wage advocacy. The core offerings include the Workers Rights Hotline (providing confidential information and advocacy for workers), the Living Wage Campaign (advocating for countywide living wage legislation), and the Living Wage Employer Certification Program (certifying employers who pay living wages). Supporting resources include the Workers Rights Handbook, Restaurant Owners Manual, and various community programs such as Community Union Organizers, Service Learning internships, and membership opportunities. The organization does not operate a technology product platform but provides direct advocacy services and educational resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Workers Rights Hotline A confidential free hotline service providing information, referrals, and advocacy assistance to workers experiencing employment issues including wage theft, discrimination, harassment, and workplace violations.
- Living Wage Employer Certification Program A certification program for employers in the private, public, and non-profit sectors that meet Living Wage Guidelines, modeled on Fair Trade certification programs and used to recognize employer commitment to fair compensation.
- TCWC Membership A membership program allowing workers and supporters to join the organization, with suggested voluntary dues based on one hour of wages and opportunities to take actions supporting workers' rights and advocacy campaigns.
Quantifiable outcome
- Won judgments of over $1,600,000 in wage theft cases for over 350 workers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- Jobs with JusticecoreNational organization leading campaigns to create economy that benefits everyone. TCWC is affiliated with the Jobs with Justice network.
- Living Wage for UScoreNational organization. TCWC is affiliated with Living Wage for US network.
- Upstate NY Workers' Center AlliancecoreCoalition of worker centers organizing together: Empire Justice Center (Rochester), Northeast NY Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (Albany), Occupational Health Clinical Center (Syracuse), Tompkins County Workers' Center (Ithaca), Western New York Worker Center (Buffalo), Worker Justice Center of New York (Kingston, Rochester, Albany), Workers' Center of Central New York (Syracuse).
- AFL-CIOcoreTCWC is a Workers Center affiliate of the AFL-CIO.
- Cornell Industrial and Labor Relations Co-LabcoreProduces annual living wage study for Tompkins County. Led by ILR Co-Lab Researchers including Ian Greer and Rusty Weaver. Ithaca and Buffalo Co-Labs collaborate on living wage calculations.
- Alternatives Federal Credit UnionsecondaryOriginally calculated the Tompkins County Living Wage every two years since 1994. Conducted Certified Living Wage Employer workforce study in 2017.
- Interfaith Worker JusticesecondaryNational organization that modeled TCWC's Living Wage Employer Certification Program and produced a guide helping communities across the U.S. learn how to certify Living Wage Employers.
- Just EconomicsminorBased in Asheville, North Carolina. Partnered with TCWC and Interfaith Worker Justice to develop Living Wage Certification Handbook.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Employment Law Project (NELP): A national advocacy organization for low-wage and unemployed workers, focused on policy reform, wage standards, and worker protections. Operates at federal/state policy level where TCWC operates at county level, with overlapping living wage and wage theft missions.
- Jobs with Justice: A national labor rights coalition leading campaigns for an economy that benefits everyone. TCWC is an affiliated worker center within the JwJ network, giving TCWC access to national organizing infrastructure while JwJ benefits from local affiliates.
- Interfaith Worker Justice: A national faith-based worker justice network that modeled its Living Wage Employer Certification guidance on TCWC's program. Operates at national scale while TCWC operates at county scale, but with directly comparable program design.
Direct peers
- Worker Justice Center of New York: A New York-based nonprofit worker center serving Kingston, Rochester, and Albany with legal services, organizing support, and workers' rights advocacy. Direct peer via shared Upstate NY Workers' Center Alliance membership and overlapping service model.
- Occupational Health Clinical Center: A Syracuse-based occupational health clinical and worker advocacy provider. Alliance partner focused on workplace health and safety, complementing TCWC's wage theft and organizing programs.
- Workers' Center of Central New York: A Syracuse-based worker center providing employment law support, organizing assistance, and worker advocacy. Listed as a TCWC partner in the Upstate NY Workers' Center Alliance, operating a near-identical service mix to TCWC.
- Empire Justice Center: A Rochester-based legal services and advocacy organization focused on economic justice, workers' rights, and social services. Listed as an Upstate NY Workers' Center Alliance partner, providing overlapping wage theft and employment law services.
- Northeast NY Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health: An Albany-area worker safety and health advocacy organization providing workplace safety training and advocacy. Upstate NY Workers' Center Alliance partner with overlapping worker rights and occupational health mission.
- Western New York Worker Center: A Buffalo-based worker center delivering workers' rights advocacy, wage theft recovery, and organizing support. Co-Alliance member with TCWC and serves a similar low-wage worker population in a comparable Upstate NY market.
Emerging players
- Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC): A national nonprofit that organizes restaurant workers for better wages and working conditions, partnering with Employers for Paid Leave. Similar worker-center model but industry-focused on restaurants; relevant for benchmarking organizing impact and certification models.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC social profiles
Digital presenceTOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC
What does TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC do?
Tompkins County Workers' Center provides free workers rights advocacy, living wage promotion, and union organizing support to workers in Tompkins County, NY. Core services include a confidential Workers Rights Hotline handling 450+ cases annually, assistance recovering unpaid wages (over $1.6M recovered for 350+ workers since 2003), union organizing campaigns (700+ workers organized into unions), and a Living Wage Employer Certification Program that has recognized up to 69 local employers meeting Living Wage Guidelines.
Is TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC a public or private company?
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC founded?
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC based?
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC is headquartered in Ithaca, United States, in the North America region.
How does TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are membership Dues.
Who are TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Employment Law Project (NELP), Jobs with Justice and Interfaith Worker Justice. Direct peers are Worker Justice Center of New York, Occupational Health Clinical Center, Workers' Center of Central New York, Empire Justice Center, Northeast NY Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health and Western New York Worker Center. Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) is listed as an emerging player.
Does TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC have an API?
No public API is recorded for TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC.
What industry is TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC in?
TOMPKINS COUNTY WORKERS CENTER INC's product category is Labor Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAJ, Employment & Job Readiness Support Services. Its NAICS code is 624310 and its SIC code is 8300.