List of labor unions in the United States explained

This is a list of labor unions in the United States. Unions exist to represent the interests of workers, who form the membership. Under US labor law, the National Labor Relations Act 1935 is the primary statute which gives US unions rights. The rights of members are governed by the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act 1959. List Below

Largest unions

Nameest.Members (approx)DescriptionConstitutionWebsite
National Education Association18573,000,000+Public school employees including but not limited to teachers, Education Support Professionals, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, guidance counselors, nurses, administrative assistants, secretaries, psychologists, and librarians.2019NEA
Service Employees International Union19211,901,161[1] RNs, professional, technical and non-professional health care workers; public employees; janitorial and security employees.2012SEIU
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees19321,459,511Employees of state, county, and municipal governments.2012AFSCME
Teamsters19031,400,000Full name: International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Truck drivers; warehouse workers; miscellaneous trades.2011teamster.org Teamsters
United Food and Commercial Workers19791,300,000Retail store and distribution employees.2008UFCW
United Auto Workers1935990,000Full name: International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. Automobile, truck, farm equipment, and construction equipment manufacturing workers.2010UAW
United Steelworkers1942860,264[2] Steel mill workers; related trades.USW
American Federation of Teachers1916828,512Public school teachers, RNs, professional, technical and non-professional health care workers.2010AFT
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers1891820,000Electrical manufacturing workers; electric utility workers.2012IBEW
Laborers' International Union of North America1903669,772Miscellaneous construction workers; other trades.2022LIUNA
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers1888653,781Aircraft manufacturing workers; aircraft maintenance and repair workers.2008IAM
Communications Workers of America1947545,638Telecommunication, customer service, broadcasting, public sector, healthcare and other workers.2013CWA
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America1881522,416Building industry carpenters and millwrights.
International Longshore and Warehouse Union1937424,579Freight handlers at ports.
International Union of Operating Engineers1896392,584Operators of construction equipment; stationary engineers.
United Association1889324,043Full name: United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada.UA
National Association of Letter Carriers1889292,221United States Postal Service mail delivery workers in urban areas.2016NALC
American Federation of Government Employees1932289,023Miscellaneous U.S. federal government workers.2012AFGE
American Postal Workers Union1971286,700United States Postal Service workers other than letter carriers.APWU
International Association of Fire Fighters1918331,003Professional firefighters and emergency medical service workers.
UNITE HERE2004301,886[3] Hotel, casino, restaurant, and commercial food service workers and garment manufacturing employees. Formerly UNITE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees) and HERE, merged in 2004.
National Postal Mail Handlers Union1912269,204A division of LIUNA. United States Postal Service workers other than letter carriers.
Amalgamated Transit Union1892190,000Mass transit service workers.ATU
American Nurses Association1897152,294Professional association for registered nurses.
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees1893160,000[4] Non-performing entertainment workers in Theater, Motion Picture & Television, & Trade ShowsIATSE
Sheet Metal Workers International Association1888148,806Mainly construction-industry sheet metal workers; also shipbuilders.
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades1887127,278Construction-industry painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, sign & display workers.
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers1896125,437
Transport Workers Union of America1934125,398Mass transit, railroad, and airline workers.
Office and Professional Employees International Union1945105,000White-collar workers in the public and private sector.OPEIU
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association1903104,717United States Postal Service mail delivery workers in rural areas.

AFL-CIO

See main article: List of unions affiliated with the AFL–CIO.

Strategic Organizing Center

See main article: Strategic Organizing Center.

Independent

National
State and Local

Professional sports labor unions

NameYear
established
AffiliationLeague(s)
National Basketball Players Association1954IndependentNational Basketball Association
National Football League Players Association1956AFL-CIONational Football League
Major League Baseball Players Association1966IndependentMajor League Baseball
National Hockey League Players Association1967IndependentNational Hockey League
Professional Hockey Players' Association1967IndependentAmerican Hockey League
ECHL
Professional Lacrosse Players' Association1991IndependentNational Lacrosse League
MLS Players Association2003IndependentMajor League Soccer
Women's National Basketball Players Association1998IndependentWomen's National Basketball Association
National Women's Soccer League Players Association2015IndependentNational Women's Soccer League

Union Reform Groups

See also

Notes and References

  1. US Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. File number 000-137. Report submitted March 30, 2017.
  2. Office of Labor-Management Standards. Employment Standards Administration. U.S. Department of Labor. Form LM-2 labor Organization Annual Report. United Steelworkers of America. File Number: 000-094. Dated March 31, 2009".
  3. Web site: Who We Are.
  4. Web site: https://twitter.com/IATSE/status/1500842946933010437.