Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council

The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO is the local central labor body that brings together affiliated unions from many sectors for political action, community campaigns and solidarity. It does not itself bargain contracts; individual unions such as DC 33 and the PFT do that. The council is distinct from the Building and Construction Trades Council, which coordinates construction unions.^[1]

1 Leadership and structure

The council's website lists Daniel P. Bauder (UFCW Local 1776) as president, Jim Gardler (CWA Local 13000) as secretary-treasurer, Marcial Gonzalez (Laborers Local 57) as recording secretary and Patrick Eiding as president emeritus. Eiding led the council for about two decades, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, which reported on December 29, 2022 that he was retiring at age 82. The council's delegates, who represent every affiliate, meet monthly; they elect three executive officers and 35 vice presidents from among their ranks, along with trustees and representatives of constituency groups. The executive board includes leaders of unions across the economy, such as AFSCME DC 33 (Greg Boulware), DC 47 (April Gigetts), the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (Art Steinberg), TWU Local 234 (Will Vera), District 1199C (Dionne Gary), UNITE HERE Local 274 (Rosslyn Wuchinich) and construction unions such as IBEW Local 98 (Mark Lynch Jr.) and the Building and Construction Trades Council (Ryan Boyer).^[2]

2 Functions

The council describes its mission as bringing social and economic justice to working people by giving them a voice on the job, in politics and in the community. It runs a year-round political program and a get-out-the-vote effort for union members and their families; works on organizing, with a "Unionize Philly!" intake form for workers who want help forming a union; and has run the Coalition of Workers at Penn, which it founded in 2023 for unionized and not-yet-unionized Penn employees. It also runs Union Experience Fairs with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, which have introduced students to union apprenticeship programs since 2023, and "Worker Power 66," a training program for union members who run for committee person or other local offices. It does not itself bargain contracts; individual unions such as DC 33 and the PFT do that.^[1]

3 Election activity and policy campaigns

The council prepares union households for elections through voter resources and canvassing; its 2026 voting-resources page says the November 3, 2026 general election is a priority and lists registration and mail-ballot deadlines. See Elections in Philadelphia and Labor and Politics in Philadelphia. Its policy page lists legislation it has supported, including the National Domestic Workers POWER Act, the Philly Black Worker Project's "All Due Respect" campaign and the "ICE Out" legislation sponsored by Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Rue Landau, along with advocacy for semi-open primaries and for the Office of Worker Protections, for which it says it seeks more funding and staff.^[1]

4 Relationship to other labor bodies

Affiliation is voluntary, and the council describes its membership as over 100 local unions. Many unions, such as the Building and Construction Trades Council, also have their own council and political operations. Pennsylvania's state federation and the national AFL-CIO set broader policy, while regional bodies such as the council focus on the Philadelphia area. For other worker organizations see Worker Centers and Labor Advocacy.

See also: Organized Labor in Philadelphia, Political Parties in Philadelphia.

References

1. Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, "About Us," "Policy," "Politics," "Organize," "Union Experience Fairs" and "Worker Power 66," phillyaflcio.org (viewed October 2026).
2. Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, "Executive Board," phillyaflcio.org (viewed October 2026); Philadelphia Inquirer, "Pat Eiding, top labor leader in Philadelphia for two decades, retires at 82" (December 29, 2022).