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Labor Union

Massachusetts AFL-CIO

Parent Organization: American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
Location:

MALDEN, MA
Tax ID:

04-2254301
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(5)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $2,602,658
Expenses: $1,936,853
Assets: $5,028,928
President:

Steve Toleman

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is the state-level affiliate of the national AFL-CIO labor federation. The organization is comprised of over 500 local labor unions in Massachusetts and lobbies for left-leaning labor policies at the state, local, and federal levels. The organization is led by Steve Tolman, a Massachusetts Democratic politician who resigned his position as the assistant majority leader in the Massachusetts State Senate to become the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO in 2011. 1 2

Background

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is a charted state affiliate of the national AFL-CIO. The organization is allowed to sets its own broad public policy agenda and platform at its biennial convention. The convention is the governing body of the organization and consists of delegates from each local labor union based on the size of its membership. Every four years the organization elects its state officers including a president, secretary-treasurer, five executive vice presidents, and 55 vice presidents. 3

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO also operates local central labor councils and central labor assemblies that comprise a geographic area of the state, such as the Greater Boston Labor Council. 4 The organization also operates the Western MA Area Labor Federation, a local labor federation comprised of the Berkshire Central Labor Assembly, the Hampshire/Franklin Abor Assembly, and the Pioneer Valley Labor Assembly. 5

Policy Stances

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO lobbies for various pro-labor union policies at the state and local levels in Massachusetts. A main focus of the organization’s recent lobbying efforts includes supporting a Democratic-led bill in the state legislature to enact strict “wage theft” laws on employers who withhold pay from employees. 6 The organization also supports left-leaning climate policies resulting in net-zero carbon emissions while calling for programs and state-assistance to force workers in the fossil fuel industry to transition to environmentalist-aligned “green jobs.” 7 The Massachusetts AFL-CIO has also recently lobbied the state to preserve tax incentives for the film and television industry in Massachusetts and is a member of the Massachusetts Production Coalition, a coalition of labor groups, advocacy groups, and businesses that lobby for the film industry in Massachusetts. 8

In 2011, both the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and its national parent organization endorsed the Occupy Wall Street protests and its affiliated spin-off protests across American cities, including Boston. 9

People

Steve Tolman is the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and was first elected to the position in 2011 to succeed outspoken union official Robert Haynes. Tolman began his union career as a member of the Transportation Communication International Union while working at South Station in Boston as a porter and ticket seller. He was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate as a Democrat in 1999 after serving two years in the state House of Representatives. Tolman ultimately rose to become the assistant majority leader within the Massachusetts Senate Democratic caucus. He resigned from the senate in 2011 following his election as president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. 10 Tolman earns over $229,000 in annual compensation from the organization according to tax filings for the group. 11

References

  1. “About Us.” Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://www.massaflcio.org/about-us
  2. Adams, Steve. “Tolman Elected AFL-CIO Chief.” The Herald News. October 6, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://www.heraldnews.com/article/20111006/news/310069138
  3. “Structure.” Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://www.massaflcio.org/structure
  4. “Central Labor Councils and Assemblies.” Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Accessed October 3, 2021.  https://www.massaflcio.org/node/32870
  5. “Central Labor Councils and Assemblies.” Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Accessed October 3, 2021.  https://www.massaflcio.org/node/32870
  6. “Stop Wage Theft in Massachusetts.” Action Network: Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Accessed October 3, 2021.  https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-wage-theft-in-massachusetts
  7. “Take Action.” Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://www.massaflcio.org/take-action
  8. “Voter Voice.” Massachusetts Production Coalition. https://massprodcoalition.org/voter-voice
  9. Adams, Steve. “Tolman Elected AFL-CIO Chief.” The Herald News. October 6, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://www.heraldnews.com/article/20111006/news/310069138
  10. Adams, Steve. “Tolman Elected AFL-CIO Chief.” The Herald News. October 6, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://www.heraldnews.com/article/20111006/news/310069138
  11. “IRS Form 990.” Massachusetts AFL-CIO. 2019. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42254301/202023159349302322/full
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 1956

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,602,658 $1,936,853 $5,028,928 $325,311 N $8,212 $2,384,970 $87,106 $252,274
    2018 Dec Form 990 $2,255,929 $1,779,917 $4,291,459 $485,263 N $7,500 $2,128,811 $93,789 $245,188 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,480,755 $1,722,621 $4,114,572 $641,076 N $0 $2,396,909 $2,195 $235,312 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $2,221,111 $1,650,152 $3,479,640 $766,215 N $43,900 $2,152,954 $357 $234,172 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,263,154 $798,810 $3,041,115 $898,649 N $27,576 $1,171,444 $154 $116,103 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $2,213,453 $1,694,934 $2,612,294 $934,172 N $177,750 $1,981,784 $401 $225,089 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $2,246,653 $1,788,750 $2,179,616 $40,986 N $166,817 $2,079,397 $439 $145,763 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $2,045,320 $1,712,304 $1,713,147 $32,420 N $140,102 $1,904,359 $859 $142,065 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $1,940,209 $1,893,745 $1,382,785 $35,074 N $164,038 $1,771,986 $4,185 $99,966 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Map image for Massachusetts AFL-CIO

    Massachusetts AFL-CIO

    389 MAIN ST
    MALDEN, MA 02148-5017