1-in-3 reject union membership in AFSCME Council 31

Of its own officers and employees, 83 made over $100,000.

The main union for Illinois public service employees claims to represent more than 90,000 workers and retirees.

But tens of thousands have rejected membership.

Just over 60,000 workers and retirees are members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, according to its most recent federal filing with the U.S. Labor Department.

That means one in three have rejected membership in a union supposedly representing their interests.

In fact, AFSCME Council 31 has never had anywhere near 90,000 members. Records with the Labor Department show membership peaked in 2009 at less than 65,000 members.

AFSCME Council 31’s questionable spending could be driving workers away. The union’s report with the Labor Department reveals that:

• Just 20% of its spending was on “representational activities” in 2025.
• It spent a record-high $3.4 million on politics that year.
• Nearly half of its own officers and employees made over $100,000.

AFSCME Council 31 members interested in leaving the union can learn about opting out at LeaveAFSCME.com.

Just 20% of AFSCME Council 31’s spending was on ‘representational activities’ in 2025

Each year, AFSCME Council 31’s federal report shows how it received or spent money in the preceding fiscal year, according to its own accounting.

The union’s most recent report shows just 20% of its spending in 2025 was on “representational activities,” which the Labor Department defines as including the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement and the administration and enforcement of the resulting contract.

AFSCME Council 31’s total reported spending in 2025 was $53.2 million. Over $42 million of that was spent on administration, politics and other leadership priorities. Examples of administrative spending include over $41,000 on executive board dinners, lunches and hotel rooms.

To put this in perspective, the Better Business Bureau’s Standards for Charity Accountability say at least 65% of a nonprofit’s expenses should be for program activities.

While the BBB evaluates spending by charities, it stands to reason AFSCME Council 31’s spending of just 20% on representation — the purpose of a union — should be a cause for concern among members.

AFSCME Council 31 spent a record-high $3.4 million on politics

The union reported spending $3.4 million on “political activities and lobbying” in 2025. That’s the most it’s ever recorded for such spending.

Most of that, $2.25 million in “dues allocated to political,” was directed to the AFSCME Council 31 political account. From there, members have no say on how the money is spent.

Nearly half of AFSCME Council 31’s own officers and employees made over $100,000

A lot of the union’s money pays its own staff. Of its 169 officers and employees, 83 earned over $100,000.

That’s 10 more six-figure salaries than in 2024.

It’s highest earner: Associate Director Michael Newman, who banked more than $200,000. Executive Director Roberta Lynch took home nearly $182,000.

In total, the union spent $13.6 million on its own officer and employee salaries.

AFSCME Council 31 members can opt out of the union and stop paying dues

State and local government workers may not agree with the union’s spending practices, or they may feel the union doesn’t represent them well.

John Moss, a former president of an AFSCME local, said in 2019, “[AFSCME Council 31] never had any backing for us at all. They never would stand up for us, they never did anything for us. We weren’t being represented. They wanted our dues, [and] to increase our dues …. The only thing they want to benefit is themselves, their own checkbooks.”

Whatever the reason, government workers don’t have to be union members to keep their jobs.

By opting out of union membership, workers can stop paying dues yet retain all benefits in their collective bargaining agreement. Learn more at LeaveAFSCME.com.