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Labor Union

Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO

Location:

HARRISBURG, PA
Tax ID:

23-1575065
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(5)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $2,858,008
Expenses: $2,606,857
Assets: $4,607,455
Website:

www.paaflcio.org
President:

Rick Bloomingdale

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The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO is a left-leaning federation of labor unions in Pennsylvania. The organization was formed in 1960 following a merger of two statewide labor federations and has a membership consisting of dozens of local labor unions and regional labor councils. The organization is a state-level affiliate of left-leaning national AFL-CIO labor federation. The organization lobbies on various pro-labor union policies issues across Pennsylvania and at the federal level and endorses candidates for office, endorsing solely Democratic candidates at the statewide and national level in 2020. 1 2

The union is led by Rick Bloomingdale, a longtime labor leader and Democratic party operative who worked for the 1992 presidential campaign of then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton (D). 3

Background

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO traces its roots to the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor, which was founded in 1890, revived in 1901, and affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. Early presidents of the federation hailed from local unions including the printer’s union and cigar makers union while union membership was initially low in the dominant steel, coal, and mining industries. 4

From 1912 to 1928, the president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor was James Maurer, a lifelong socialist and frequent candidate for various offices on the Socialist Party ticket. 5

In 1960, the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor merged with the Pennsylvania Industrial Union Council to form what is now the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. The merger came five years after the national merger between the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations. The merger was preceded by protracted negotiations between the two groups and was only completed when AFL-CIO president George Meany stepped in, making Pennsylvania the second-to-last state to merge its labor federations. 6

At its founding in 1960, the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO had 1 million members, but that number had dropped to 800,000 by 2012. 7

Activities

Advocacy

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO’s focus is to advance the national AFL-CIO’s agenda at the state level. The organization is also affiliated with many regional AFL-CIO councils covering various counties and cities within Pennsylvania, such as the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO. The organization also lobbies for a variety of left-leaning pro union issues at the state and federal levels including increased immigration, increasing taxpayer responsibility for union pensions, opposing right-to-work laws, and raising taxes on businesses. 8

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO also supports various left-leaning pro-labor union legislation at the state-level and in congress. The organization supports “prevailing wage” laws and project labor agreements that bind taxpayer-funded projects to certain pay standards, and oppose any reforms made to Pennsylvania’s underfunded government-worker pension system. The organization also supports left-leaning immigration policy and opposes raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 9

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO also opposes all efforts to privatize government-controlled programs in Pennsylvania such as the state-owned liquor stores, the state lottery, and toll roads. It also opposes voter identification laws. 10 11

Endorsements

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO overwhelmingly endorses Democratic candidates including endorsing President Joe Biden (D) in the 2020 Presidential election. The organization also endorsed Democratic candidates for all Pennsylvania’s congressional seats with the exception of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), endorsed solely Democratic candidates for the Pennsylvania state Senate, and endorsed Democrats in all but seven  major-party-contested state House races. 12

Other Activities

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO is also a member of the Fund Our Facilities Coalition, a coalition of left-leaning labor groups and politicians advocating for a several hundred-million-dollar investments in school infrastructure across Pennsylvania. As of January 2021, the coalition is calling for an immediate $200 million investment to fund school building improvements in Philadelphia including COVID-related upgrades such as overhauled ventilation systems. 13

Members of the Fund Our Facilities Coalition include the A. Philip Randolph Institute, ACLU Pennsylvania, AFSCME 1199c, American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Labor Federation, the American Federation of Teachers, For Our Future PA PAC, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Philadelphia Jobs With Justice, Philaposh, Philly Healthy Schools Initiative, Public Interest Law Center, Seafarers International, SEIU 668, Working America, and the Working Families Partnership. 14

The union also supports a variety of member service programs, including being a part of the national partnership between the AFL-CIO and United Way Worldwide, a community service organization that has been tied to the AFL-CIO since 1946. AFL-CIO labor leaders at the state and local level send annual letter campaigns to union members encouraging payroll deductions from union members paychecks to fund local United Ways, which account for more than two-thirds of United Ways’ annual fundraising. The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO also supports the national food drive held by the National Association of Letter Carriers. 15

People

Rick Bloomingdale is the president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and has worked in that position since 2010. Prior to being president of the organization, he was the secretary-treasurer of the organization from 1994 to 2020. Bloomingdale also previously was the national deputy political director for Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. Prior to that he was the political director for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 13 from 1983 to 1992. 16 Bloomingdale earns $267,000 in annual salary from the organization. 17

Frank Snyder is the secretary-treasurer for the organization. Snyder is a longtime union official and got his start as a union organizer for Steelworkers District 10, he has been deeply involved with the political work of the both the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and the national AFL-CIO. In 2010, Snyder was tapped by then-AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka to direct the national field program for the AFL-CIO’s political department. Snyder was also involved in leading union support for the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. 18 Snyder earns over $250,000 in salary from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. 19

References

  1. “Home.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021. http://www.paaflcio.org/
  2. “Candidate Endorsements.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021. http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=316
  3. “Rick Bloomingdale.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-bloomingdale-16b1814/
  4. “History of the Philadelphia Federation of Labor.” Google Books. Accessed September 25, 2021.
  5. “James H. Maurer, 79, A Socialist Leader. Vice Presidential Candidate Twice. Union Official”. New York Times. March 17, 1944. Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/1944/03/17/archives/james-h-maurer-79-a-socialist-leader-vice-presidential-candidate.html
  6. “History of the Philadelphia Federation of Labor.” Google Books. Accessed September 25, 2021. https://books.google.com/books?id=TzowAQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA117&ots=zK0NLQJdB5&dq=%22Pennsylvania%20Federation%20of%20Labor%22%20founded&pg=PA117#v=onepage&q&f=false
  7. “Home.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021. http://www.paaflcio.org/
  8. “State Budget.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021.  http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=171
  9. “Legislation and Policy.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=6
  10. “Voter ID” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021.  http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=318
  11. “Electoral Vote Scheme.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021.  http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=878
  12. “Candidate Endorsements.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021.  http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=316
  13. “Fund Our Facilities Coalition.” Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.pft.org/fund-our-facilities?redirect_count=1
  14. “Fund Our Facilities Coalition.” Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.pft.org/fund-our-facilities?redirect_count=1
  15. “Labor and the United Way.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021.  http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=177
  16. “Rick Bloomingdale.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-bloomingdale-16b1814/
  17. Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/231575065/06_2021_prefixes_23-23%2F231575065_201912_990O_2021060718276904
  18. “Officers and Staff.” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Accessed September 25, 2021.   http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=40
  19. Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/231575065/06_2021_prefixes_23-23%2F231575065_201912_990O_2021060718276904
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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 $2,858,008 $2,606,857 $4,607,455 $1,333,559 N $107,089 $2,508,040 $13,338 $519,269 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $3,396,067 $3,209,003 $4,389,248 $1,395,842 N $112,224 $3,052,991 $17,652 $498,584 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $3,237,701 $2,752,269 $4,246,542 $1,416,755 N $73,107 $2,956,724 $9,491 $484,551
    2016 Dec Form 990 $3,558,561 $3,415,855 $3,849,530 $1,520,897 N $303,146 $3,053,631 $5,012 $480,418
    2015 Dec Form 990 $3,547,948 $3,500,020 $3,749,195 $1,568,193 N $455,909 $2,884,607 $8,776 $462,599 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $3,967,485 $3,945,570 $3,910,935 $1,770,987 N $547,800 $3,200,067 $5,167 $462,276 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $3,391,622 $3,519,217 $4,098,778 $2,002,230 N $460,643 $2,725,611 $16,024 $470,723 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $3,735,223 $4,283,832 $2,963,553 $739,854 N $589,574 $3,558,731 $21,323 $441,990 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $3,554,200 $3,943,833 $2,621,241 $196,622 N $455,740 $3,039,964 $31,533 $439,563 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO

    600 NORTH 2ND STREET
    HARRISBURG, PA 17101-1092