Just over 60,000 workers and retirees belong to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, even though the union claims to represent more than 90,000 Illinois public service employees, according to a new report from the Illinois Policy Institute. That means roughly one in three people the union says it represents have declined to join as members. The report, based on the union's most recent federal filing with the U.S. Labor Department, reveals that AFSCME Council 31 has never approached 90,000 members at any point in its history, with membership peaking in 2009 at fewer than 65,000.
The union's 2025 federal disclosure shows it spent just 20% of its budget on "representational activities," which the Labor Department defines as negotiating collective bargaining agreements and enforcing the resulting contracts. AFSCME Council 31's total spending in 2025 reached $53.2 million, with more than $42 million going to administration, political activities, and other leadership priorities. Administrative expenses included over $41,000 on executive board dinners, lunches, and hotel accommodations. Political spending hit a record high of $3.4 million in 2025, the most the union has ever reported for such activities. Of that total, $2.25 million in dues was directed to the AFSCME Council 31 political account, where members have no control over how the money is used.
The union's payroll reflects significant compensation for its leadership and staff. Of 169 officers and employees, 83 earned more than $100,000 in 2025, an increase of 10 six-figure salaries compared to 2024. Associate Director Michael Newman received more than $200,000, while Executive Director Roberta Lynch took home nearly $182,000. In total, the union paid $13.6 million in salaries to its officers and employees. The report notes that the Better Business Bureau's Standards for Charity Accountability recommend at least 65% of a nonprofit's expenses go toward program activities, though the BBB evaluates charities rather than unions.
The report suggests the union's spending patterns may be driving workers away from membership. It cites John Moss, a former president of an AFSCME local, who said in 2019 that the union "never had any backing for us at all" and "never would stand up for us." The report emphasizes that state and local government workers can opt out of union membership while keeping their jobs and retaining all benefits in their collective bargaining agreements. Workers who leave stop paying dues but don't lose any contractual protections. The bottom line: thousands of Illinois public employees are choosing to keep their paychecks intact rather than fund a union they feel doesn't prioritize their representation.