Executive Compensation at the AFL-CIO (2022)

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a federation of 60 labor unions that represent 12.5 million workers. A non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (5) – a labor organization, the AFL-CIO is headquartered in Washington, DC.

The AFL-CIO has 19 related tax-exempt, non-profit organizations, 15 of whom operate out of the same office address. The other 4 organizations also operate out of a two DC-based offices but at a different street address, and an office in Silver Spring, MD.

There are 104 voting members (board members) of the governing body, 94 of whom are independent.  100 are listed on the Form 990 (due to timing differences);  77  are male while 23 are female.

Total revenue was $111 million in 2022, with most revenue coming from membership dues and royalties. Expenses were $102 million with the largest expense reported to be compensation.  428 employees received $46 million in compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $107,000. However, only 148 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation. The most highly compensated employee was Sean McGarvey who received $674,570 (from a related/affiliated organization).

The 15 most highly compensated employees were reported to be:

• $674,570:  Sean McGarvey, VP*
• $392,440:  Richard Barchiesi, Executive Asst to EVP
• $347,699:  Tefere Gebre, EVP
• $351,327:  Elizabeth Shuler, President
• $275,226:  Gregory Regan, General Board*
• $272,220:  Paul Lemmon, Special Advisor to the President
• $271,583:  Christyne Neff, Chief of Staff, Executive Asst to the President
• $269,061:  Jennifer Dorning, General Board Member*
• $266,222:  Harold Becker, General Counsel
• $263,593:  Damon Silvers, Special Counsel to President
• $228,698:  Richard Trumka, President
• $206,124:  Brad Markell, Director of Working America Institute
• $193,500:  James Hart, General Board Member*
• $185,550:  Richard Kline, General Board Member*
• $176,995:  Matthew Morrison, General Board Member*

“*” indicates compensation came from a related organizaiton

12 of the 15 (80%) most highly compensated employees listed above are male while 3% of the 15 (20%) are female.

The most highly compensated employee was Sea McGarvey who received nearly $700,000 in 2022 and $3.6 million from 2017-2022.

Sean McGarvey:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $3.6 million

• 2022:  $674,570
• 2021:  $574,689
• 2020:  $688,554
• 2019:  $560,296
• 2018:  $544,786
• 2017:  $531,228

The AFL-CIO paid for first class or charter travel, companion travel, and provided gross up payments and tax indemnification. No other detail was provided.

Union Labor Life Insurance – a company that provides insurance coverage and investment services to the AFL-CIO and that has 10 officers on both the Board of Directors at Union Labor Life Insurance and are officers of the AFL-CIO – was compensated $54,620.

13 independent contractors received more than $100,000 from the AFL-CIO. The five most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $679,331:  Catalist, LLC of Washington, DC for data related services
• $371,280:  Deliver Strategies, of Arlington, VA for printing
• $192,000:  Jeani Murray, of Wash, DC for consulting (state unity)
• $285,700:  Local Politechs Strategies, of Wash, DC for consulting (state unity)
• $210,000:  Shepardson Stern & Kaminsky, of NY for communication services

To read the IRS Form 990 (2021 for the year ending June 30, 2022), click here.