List of labor unions in the United States
Updated: 11/4/2025, 4:28:38 PM Wikipedia source
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 of 1959. List Below
Tables
· Largest unions
National Education Association (NEA)
National Education Association (NEA)
Name
National Education Association (NEA)
est.
1857
Members (approx)
3,000,000+
Description
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.
Constitution
2019
Website
NEA
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Name
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
est.
1921
Members (approx)
1,901,161
Description
RNs, professional, technical and non-professional health care workers; public employees; janitorial and security employees.
Constitution
2012
Website
SEIU
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Name
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
est.
1932
Members (approx)
1,459,511
Description
Employees of state, county, and municipal governments.
Constitution
2012
Website
AFSCME
Teamsters
Teamsters
Name
Teamsters
est.
1903
Members (approx)
1,400,000
Description
Full name: International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Truck drivers; warehouse workers; miscellaneous trades.
Constitution
2016
Website
Teamsters
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
Name
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
est.
1979
Members (approx)
1,300,000
Description
Retail store and distribution employees.
Constitution
2008
Website
UFCW
United Auto Workers (UAW)
United Auto Workers (UAW)
Name
United Auto Workers (UAW)
est.
1935
Members (approx)
990,000
Description
Full name: International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. Automobile, truck, farm equipment, and construction equipment manufacturing workers.
Constitution
2010
Website
UAW
United Steelworkers (USW)
United Steelworkers (USW)
Name
United Steelworkers (USW)
est.
1942
Members (approx)
860,264
Description
Steel mill workers; related trades.
Website
USW
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Name
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
est.
1916
Members (approx)
1,700,000[circular reference]
Description
Public school teachers, RNs, professional, technical and non-professional health care workers.
Constitution
2022
Website
AFT
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Name
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
est.
1891
Members (approx)
820,000
Description
Electrical manufacturing workers; electric utility workers.
Constitution
2012
Website
IBEW
Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
Name
Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
est.
1903
Members (approx)
669,772
Description
Miscellaneous construction workers; other trades.
Constitution
2022
Website
LIUNA
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
Name
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
est.
1888
Members (approx)
653,781
Description
Aircraft manufacturing workers; aircraft maintenance and repair workers.
Constitution
2017
Website
IAM
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Name
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
est.
1947
Members (approx)
545,638
Description
Telecommunication, customer service, broadcasting, public sector, healthcare and other workers.
Constitution
2013
Website
CWA
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA)
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA)
Name
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA)
est.
1881
Members (approx)
522,416
Description
Building industry carpenters and millwrights.
Constitution
2015
Website
UBC
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU)
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU)
Name
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU)
est.
1937
Members (approx)
424,579
Description
Freight handlers at ports.
Constitution
2016
Website
ILWU
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
Name
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
est.
1896
Members (approx)
392,584
Description
Operators of construction equipment; stationary engineers.
Constitution
2015
Website
IUOE
United Association (UA)
United Association (UA)
Name
United Association (UA)
est.
1889
Members (approx)
324,043
Description
Full name: United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada.
Constitution
2021
Website
UA
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
Name
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
est.
1889
Members (approx)
292,221
Description
United States Postal Service mail delivery workers in urban areas.
Constitution
2016
Website
NALC
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
Name
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
est.
1932
Members (approx)
289,023
Description
Miscellaneous U.S. federal government workers.
Constitution
2012
Website
AFGE
American Postal Workers Union (APWU)
American Postal Workers Union (APWU)
Name
American Postal Workers Union (APWU)
est.
1971
Members (approx)
286,700
Description
United States Postal Service workers other than letter carriers.
Website
APWU
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
Name
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
est.
1918
Members (approx)
331,003
Description
Professional firefighters and emergency medical service workers.
Constitution
2021
Website
IAFF
UNITE HERE
UNITE HERE
Name
UNITE HERE
est.
2004
Members (approx)
301,886
Description
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.
Constitution
2024
Website
UNITE HERE
National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU)
National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU)
Name
National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU)
est.
1912
Members (approx)
269,204
Description
A division of LIUNA. United States Postal Service workers other than letter carriers.
Constitution
2022
Website
NPMHU
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
Name
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
est.
1892
Members (approx)
190,000
Description
Mass transit service workers.
Constitution
2022
Website
ATU
American Nurses Association (ANU)
American Nurses Association (ANU)
Name
American Nurses Association (ANU)
est.
1897
Members (approx)
152,294
Description
Professional association for registered nurses.
Website
ANA
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
Name
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
est.
1893
Members (approx)
168,000
Description
Non-performing entertainment workers in Theater, Motion Picture & Television, & Trade Shows
Website
IATSE
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (IASMARTW)
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (IASMARTW)
Name
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (IASMARTW)
est.
1888
Members (approx)
148,806
Website
SMART
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
Name
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
est.
1887
Members (approx)
127,278
Description
Construction-industry painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, sign & display workers.
Constitution
2020
Website
IUPAT
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IABSORIW)
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IABSORIW)
Name
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IABSORIW)
est.
1896
Members (approx)
125,437
Constitution
2021
Website
IW
Transport Workers Union of America (TWUA)
Transport Workers Union of America (TWUA)
Name
Transport Workers Union of America (TWUA)
est.
1934
Members (approx)
125,398
Description
Mass transit, railroad, and airline workers.
Constitution
2017
Website
TWU
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
Name
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
est.
1945
Members (approx)
105,000
Description
White-collar workers in the public and private sector.
Website
OPEIU
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCU)
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCU)
Name
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCU)
est.
1903
Members (approx)
104,717
Description
United States Postal Service mail delivery workers in rural areas.
Constitution
2017
Website
NRLCA
| Name | est. | Members (approx) | Description | Constitution | Website |
| National Education Association (NEA) | 1857 | 3,000,000+ | 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. | 2019 | NEA |
| Service Employees International Union (SEIU) | 1921 | 1,901,161 | RNs, professional, technical and non-professional health care workers; public employees; janitorial and security employees. | 2012 | SEIU |
| American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) | 1932 | 1,459,511 | Employees of state, county, and municipal governments. | 2012 | AFSCME |
| Teamsters | 1903 | 1,400,000 | Full name: International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Truck drivers; warehouse workers; miscellaneous trades. | 2016 | Teamsters |
| United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) | 1979 | 1,300,000 | Retail store and distribution employees. | 2008 | UFCW |
| United Auto Workers (UAW) | 1935 | 990,000 | Full name: International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. Automobile, truck, farm equipment, and construction equipment manufacturing workers. | 2010 | UAW |
| United Steelworkers (USW) | 1942 | 860,264 | Steel mill workers; related trades. | USW | |
| American Federation of Teachers (AFT) | 1916 | 1,700,000[circular reference] | Public school teachers, RNs, professional, technical and non-professional health care workers. | 2022 | AFT |
| International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) | 1891 | 820,000 | Electrical manufacturing workers; electric utility workers. | 2012 | IBEW |
| Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) | 1903 | 669,772 | Miscellaneous construction workers; other trades. | 2022 | LIUNA |
| International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) | 1888 | 653,781 | Aircraft manufacturing workers; aircraft maintenance and repair workers. | 2017 | IAM |
| Communications Workers of America (CWA) | 1947 | 545,638 | Telecommunication, customer service, broadcasting, public sector, healthcare and other workers. | 2013 | CWA |
| United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) | 1881 | 522,416 | Building industry carpenters and millwrights. | 2015 | UBC |
| International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) | 1937 | 424,579 | Freight handlers at ports. | 2016 | ILWU |
| International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) | 1896 | 392,584 | Operators of construction equipment; stationary engineers. | 2015 | IUOE |
| United Association (UA) | 1889 | 324,043 | Full name: United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. | 2021 | UA |
| National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) | 1889 | 292,221 | United States Postal Service mail delivery workers in urban areas. | 2016 | NALC |
| American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) | 1932 | 289,023 | Miscellaneous U.S. federal government workers. | 2012 | AFGE |
| American Postal Workers Union (APWU) | 1971 | 286,700 | United States Postal Service workers other than letter carriers. | APWU | |
| International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) | 1918 | 331,003 | Professional firefighters and emergency medical service workers. | 2021 | IAFF |
| UNITE HERE | 2004 | 301,886 | 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. | 2024 | UNITE HERE |
| National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) | 1912 | 269,204 | A division of LIUNA. United States Postal Service workers other than letter carriers. | 2022 | NPMHU |
| Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) | 1892 | 190,000 | Mass transit service workers. | 2022 | ATU |
| American Nurses Association (ANU) | 1897 | 152,294 | Professional association for registered nurses. | ANA | |
| International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) | 1893 | 168,000 | Non-performing entertainment workers in Theater, Motion Picture & Television, & Trade Shows | IATSE | |
| International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (IASMARTW) | 1888 | 148,806 | SMART | ||
| International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) | 1887 | 127,278 | Construction-industry painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, sign & display workers. | 2020 | IUPAT |
| International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IABSORIW) | 1896 | 125,437 | 2021 | IW | |
| Transport Workers Union of America (TWUA) | 1934 | 125,398 | Mass transit, railroad, and airline workers. | 2017 | TWU |
| Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) | 1945 | 105,000 | White-collar workers in the public and private sector. | OPEIU | |
| National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCU) | 1903 | 104,717 | United States Postal Service mail delivery workers in rural areas. | 2017 | NRLCA |
· Professional sports labor unions
National Basketball Players Association
National Basketball Players Association
Name
National Basketball Players Association
Year established
1954
Affiliation
Independent
League(s)
National Basketball Association
National Football League Players Association
National Football League Players Association
Name
National Football League Players Association
Year established
1956
Affiliation
AFL-CIO
League(s)
National Football League
Major League Baseball Players Association
Major League Baseball Players Association
Name
Major League Baseball Players Association
Year established
1966
Affiliation
AFL-CIO
League(s)
Major League Baseball
National Hockey League Players' Association
National Hockey League Players' Association
Name
National Hockey League Players' Association
Year established
1967
Affiliation
AFL-CIO
League(s)
National Hockey League
Professional Hockey Players' Association
Professional Hockey Players' Association
Name
Professional Hockey Players' Association
Year established
1967
Affiliation
AFL-CIO
League(s)
American Hockey League & ECHL
Professional Lacrosse Players' Association
Professional Lacrosse Players' Association
Name
Professional Lacrosse Players' Association
Year established
1991
Affiliation
Independent
League(s)
National Lacrosse League
MLS Players Association
MLS Players Association
Name
MLS Players Association
Year established
2003
Affiliation
AFL-CIO
League(s)
Major League Soccer
Women's National Basketball Players Association
Women's National Basketball Players Association
Name
Women's National Basketball Players Association
Year established
1998
Affiliation
AFL-CIO
League(s)
Women's National Basketball Association
National Women's Soccer League Players Association
National Women's Soccer League Players Association
Name
National Women's Soccer League Players Association
Year established
2015
Affiliation
AFL-CIO
League(s)
National Women's Soccer League
United Soccer League Players Association
United Soccer League Players Association
Name
United Soccer League Players Association
Year established
2018
Affiliation
AFL-CIO
League(s)
United Soccer League
| Name | Year established | Affiliation | League(s) |
| National Basketball Players Association | 1954 | Independent | National Basketball Association |
| National Football League Players Association | 1956 | AFL-CIO | National Football League |
| Major League Baseball Players Association | 1966 | AFL-CIO | Major League Baseball |
| National Hockey League Players' Association | 1967 | AFL-CIO | National Hockey League |
| Professional Hockey Players' Association | 1967 | AFL-CIO | American Hockey League & ECHL |
| Professional Lacrosse Players' Association | 1991 | Independent | National Lacrosse League |
| MLS Players Association | 2003 | AFL-CIO | Major League Soccer |
| Women's National Basketball Players Association | 1998 | AFL-CIO | Women's National Basketball Association |
| National Women's Soccer League Players Association | 2015 | AFL-CIO | National Women's Soccer League |
| United Soccer League Players Association | 2018 | AFL-CIO | United Soccer League |
References
- US Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. File number 000-137. Report submitted March 30, 2017.
- Office of Labor-Management Standards. Employment Standards Administration. U.S. Department of Labor. Form LM-2 labor Org
- "American Federation of Teachers"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Federation_of_Teachers
- "Who We Are"http://unitehere.org/who-we-are/
- "IATSE About Us"https://iatse.net/about