district council 21

What district council 21 does

District Council 21 (IUPAT District Council 21) is a labor union that represents finishing-trades workers — including commercial and industrial painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, wallcoverers, sign painters, line stripers, and public employees — across Central and Northeast Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Region, New Jersey, and Delaware, covering more than 65 counties. The organization functions as a district council of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and provides collective bargaining, a hiring hall and dispatch system that connects members with signatory contractors, and a full benefits stack that includes a Welfare Fund (health insurance), a defined-benefit Pension Fund, an Annuity Fund (defined-contribution supplement), the LMCI Maternity Leave Program (six to eight weeks at up to $800/week, with up to six months paid leave pre-birth if certified), scholarships for member dependents, and mental-health and substance-use assistance through the Allied Trades Assistance Program and IUPAT Helping Hand.

The union's primary commercial assets are its apprenticeship and workforce-development programs operated through the sub-brand the Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region (FTI-MAR), which runs an earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship model with zero student debt and reports 100% job placement for graduates. FTI-MAR holds accreditation from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Council of Occupational Education and was recognized as a 'Trailblazer' by the U.S. Department of Labor — the first stand-alone building-trades apprenticeship program in North America to achieve that status. Member-facing technology is limited to the IUPAT Mobile Member Portal (iOS/Android) and a web-based member portal for benefits administration, address management, and union communications; no public API or developer documentation is offered. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues and employer contributions to welfare and annuity funds; specific dues rates, membership counts, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

DC21 is led by an elected Executive Council headed by Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Bernie Snyder and President William Kresz, and operates from four primary locations: the Philadelphia Business Office & Main Campus (2980 Southampton Road), the Springfield NJ Branch Campus (9 Fadem Rd.), the Drums Instructional Service Center (66 Azalea Drive), and an Atlantic City location (2301 Boardwalk) used for member meetings and activities. The union's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: it organizes non-union workers into the union, recruits experienced tradespeople and apprentices across PA/NJ/DE, runs an exclusive hiring hall that dispatches members to signatory contractors, and engages members in political action through the Labor Action Team. Recent strategic moves include a partnership with Rowan University for construction-management degree pathways (2024-10-24), adoption of the IUPAT Helping Hand Program (2024-10-29), launch of the WINC (Women in Nontraditional Careers) program, and a partnership with BBS Benefit Solutions for voluntary short-term disability coverage (2026-04-20).

Name

district council 21

Legal name

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 21

Website

https://dc21.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

District Council 21 (IUPAT DC21) is a labor union representing finishing-trades workers — painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, and allied trades — across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, providing collective bargaining, apprenticeship training through FTI-MAR, health/welfare benefits, pension programs, and a hiring-hall dispatch system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (23832), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Building Finishing Contractors (2383)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Services Labor Staffing (BPACAEAM)

Keywords

• Labor union services
• Apprenticeship training programs
• Union member benefits
• Hiring hall dispatch
• Finishing trades representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: DC21 generates revenue through membership dues paid by union members. These dues fund member benefits including healthcare, pensions, annuities, training, and union operations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

District Council 21 is a labor union (district council of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades) representing painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, and allied finishing-trades workers across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. It provides union representation and collective bargaining, an earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program through the Finishing Trades Institute (FTI-MAR), member benefits (health/welfare, pension, annuity, maternity leave, scholarships), and an exclusive hiring hall/job dispatch system that connects members with signatory contractors.

Product overview

District Council 21 (IUPAT District Council 21) is a labor union representing painters, wallcoverers, glaziers, drywall finishers, industrial/bridge painters, paper hangers, decorators, paint makers, line stripers, sign painters, and public employees across Central and Northeast Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Region, New Jersey, and Delaware. The organization operates as a membership organization offering union services rather than a technology product company. Its core service offerings include: union membership with industry-leading wages and workplace protections; apprenticeship training through the Finishing Trades Institute (FTI-MAR) with zero debt earn-as-you-learn model; health and welfare benefits including medical insurance (Welfare Fund), retirement benefits (Pension and Annuity Fund), maternity leave programs, and voluntary benefits via BBS Benefit Solutions; job dispatch and hiring hall services; scholarship programs for member dependents; and educational partnerships with Rowan University for construction management degrees. The organization provides digital access through the IUPAT Mobile Member Portal (iOS/Android apps) and member web portal. Key partnerships include FTI-MAR for training and Rowan University for higher education programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Finishing Trades Institute (FTI): Official training center of District Council 21 apprenticeships, also known as FTI-MAR (Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region). Recognized as a 'Trailblazer' in apprenticeships with the U.S. Department of Labor and accredited with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Council of Occupational Education.
• Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region (FTI-MAR)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% job placement for FTI apprenticeship graduates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BBS Benefit SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Partnership to offer voluntary benefit coverage including paycheck protection short term disability protection for financial protection in times of unexpected need.
• IUPAT Helping Hand ProgramminorOthers · 29 October 2024International IUPAT program providing suicide prevention and substance misuse resources for members and families.
• Rowan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2024Partnership offers DC21 members exclusive access to graduate and undergraduate programs in construction management. Programs include Construction Management Certificate, Bachelor of Arts in Construction Management, and Master of Engineering Management. Members receive discounted tuition rates.
• Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region (FTI-MAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTI is the official training center for DC21 apprenticeships. Recognized as 'Trailblazer' by U.S. Department of Labor and first stand-alone building trades apprenticeship program in North America with accreditation from PA Department of Education and COE. Offers debt-free Earn As You Learn model with 100% job placement.
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent international union organization. DC21 is District Council 21 of IUPAT. IUPAT provides mobile member portal app, Helping Hand program for suicide prevention and substance misuse, and overarching union support.
• Guardian NursesminorOthersGuardian Nurses provide healthcare advocacy services to DC21 members, helping with appointments, doctor visits, billing resolution, and treatment decision support.
• Allied Trades Assistance ProgramminorOthersPhiladelphia Trade Unions' program helping members and families with mental health concerns and substance use disorder.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT): IUPAT is the parent international union of DC21, providing governance, the IUPAT Mobile Member Portal, and overarching programs like Helping Hand. As the umbrella body for painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, and allied trades, IUPAT directly oversees and supports DC21's operations, making it the most structurally comparable peer.
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America: The Carpenters Union is a major North American building trades union representing carpenters, floor layers, and related construction workers. It operates apprenticeship training, hiring halls, and benefits programs structurally analogous to DC21, though for a different craft mix. It is a comparable peer in business model, scale, and trade union strategy.
• Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA): LiUNA is one of the largest building trades unions, representing laborers in construction, building cleanup, and related trades. With regional district councils, apprenticeship programs, hiring halls, and benefits funds, LiUNA shares DC21's union operating model and competes for the same construction labor pool and signatory contractors.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW): IBEW is a major North American building trades union representing electricians with a similar structural model: local unions, apprenticeship training, hiring halls, and multiemployer benefit funds. While DC21 covers finishing trades and IBEW covers electrical work, both operate the same union operating playbook and compete in the broader construction labor market.
• Sheet Metal Workers International Association: The SMART union (formerly Sheet Metal Workers International Association) represents workers in sheet metal, HVAC, and related construction trades. It operates apprenticeship training, hiring halls, and multiemployer benefit plans structurally similar to DC21, with regional locals that often share jurisdiction in the Mid-Atlantic construction market.

Direct peers

• IUPAT District Council 9: IUPAT DC 9 is a fellow district council covering New York City and surrounding areas, representing painters, glaziers, and allied trades. As a sibling district council with the same parent union, similar craft mix (finishing trades), and overlapping operational model (hiring hall, apprenticeship, benefits), DC 9 is the most directly comparable peer to DC 21.

Others

• Finishing Contractors Association International: FCA International is the multiemployer contractor association representing union finishing contractors nationwide. It operates labor-management cooperation initiatives with IUPAT and works directly with DC21's signatory contractors, making it a key counterparty and ecosystem peer for DC21's hiring hall and collective bargaining activities.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): ABC is the largest U.S. trade association representing merit-shop (non-union) construction contractors. It operates apprenticeship programs, training, and member benefits competing directly with union counterparts like DC21. ABC represents the principal open-shop competitive pressure on DC21's contractor relationships and market share.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dc21iupat
• Facebookfacebook.com/iupatdc21
• Instagraminstagram.com/iupat_dc21
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/district-council-21

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about district council 21