Central Labor Councils

With nearly one million union members in the state, the Illinois Central Labor Councils (CLCs) are ready for action when it comes to standing up for working family issues. Each of the 21 Councils represent local unions in their communities, and are closely connected with the issues & concerns of their members. Through grassroots organizing, the CLCs work locally to ensure that working people, both union and non-union, are represented.

Local Action

CLCs help ensure progress for working people by maintaining standing committees to develop programs tailored around local issues.

By uniting the labor movement and mobilizing the local community around issues that are important to working families, the CLC plays a critical role in local, state, and national issues. They are “where the action is” on political campaigns and Get Out The Vote efforts.

The Voice of Labor

Central Labor Councils are the voice of labor in local communities. They work with local unions to build solidarity and promote the following:

Membership Communication
Educational Forums
Local Union Support
Community Coalitions
Activist Recruitment
Organizing
Rallies and Events
Community Service Projects
Get Out The Vote
Issue Campaigns
Labor Day Parades
Union Member Recognition

Giving Back

The labor movement embraces the fact that we are stronger together. CLCs and local unions proudly coordinate projects such as the Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, backpack and coat drives, strike assistance, scholarship programs, United Way campaign fundraising, and many more forms of community engagement. They use their skills to help not-for-profit agencies and use the power of the labor movement to build stronger, more caring communities.

Community Service and giving back is an important pillar of the labor movement. Through a partnership with United Way, Illinois has twelve AFL-CIO Community Service Liaisons in place to ensure that this mission is carried out. Each liaison works in their local community, in cooperation with their Central Labor Council, to expand services, improve public policy, and increase the capacity for workers and their families to impact and improve the quality of their lives.