The International Labor Communications Association is a left-of-center coalition of communications departments within dozens of labor unions based in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1955, the group is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress, and was formerly affiliated with Change to Win. The ILCA’s membership is open to all unions affiliated with any of the labor federations as well as other unions across the globe. The group’s primary activities include hosting annual awards for labor union communications activity and campaigns, other events, and educational programming. ¹

Background

The International Labor Communications Association is classified as a labor union federation and acts as the professional association for communications and public affairs professionals within the broader labor union movement. The group was formed in 1955 with the goal of growing the communications infrastructure within labor unions. The group states that its membership is open to communications departments and communications professionals within labor unions as well as members of the media, and has been formally tied to three labor union federations: the AFL-CIO, the largest labor union federation in the United States, which is a significant force in left-of-center advocacy and Democratic politics; the Canadian Labour Congress, the principal labor union federation in Canada; and Change to Win, although Change to Win no longer acts as a formal labor union federation and has changed its name to the Strategic Organizing Center. ^{2 1}

The ILCA claims that its member unions “produce publications with a total circulation in the tens of millions and are dedicated to amplifying labor’s and workers’ voices around the world.” It states that the ILCA “provides a platform to showcase, advance, and grow the work of labor communicators.” ¹

Activity

The International Labor Union Federation operates an annual labor communications contest and hosts a large bi-annual convention as well as other events, including a Labor Communicators Cross-Border U.S. and Canada Mini-Conference. ^{3 1}

The group’s annual awards contest recognizes communications pieces such as magazine articles as well as collective bargaining campaigns. In 2023, award winners included the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) for its campaign to expand remote work for employees at the National Science Foundation in a new contract. Other 2023 award winners included the Professional Employees Association, SAG-AFTRA, the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), and the Airline Pilots Association. The group awards over 125 annual first, second, and third-place awards in several categories, with several promoting organizing on behalf of Democratic political campaigns and promoting left-of-center critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology. ^{4 5 4 6 7}

In 2024, awardees included CWA Local 1180, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the Washington Nurses Association, United Teachers Los Angeles, and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. ^{8 9}

The ILCA’s bi-annual convention is hosted in partnership with the AFL-CIO. The 2023 event included “a robust agenda centered around strike preparedness and contract campaigns” and a “featured panel on the Delta Air Lines organizing campaign and breakout workshops on topics like the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) for Union Communicators and Paid Digital Media.” ⁷

1. “About.” International Labor Communications Association. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://laborcommunicators.org/about
2. “ILCA Announces 2023 Contest Winners.” International Labor Communications Association. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://laborcommunicators.org/news-updates/ilca-announces-2023-contest-winners
3. “NYC Mini Conference 2024.” International Labor Communications Association. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://laborcommunicators.org/news-updates/nycminiconfernece2024
4. “ILCA 2023 Award Winners.” International Labor Communications Association (Google Docs). Accessed May 28, 2025. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZJyklLW9cNDMPmU4V395Km3wpGw6cio2/edit?gid=1191579986#gid=1191579986
5. “Addressing Systemic Racism in Buffalo.” The Voice – UUP. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://thevoiceuup.buzzsprout.com/1917165/10829824-addressing-systemic-racism-in-buffalo
6. “Election 2022: AFGE Mounts Large Midterm Program and Wins Big.” American Federation of Government Employees. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://www.afge.org/article/election-2022-afge-mounts-large-midterm-program-and-wins-big/
7. “2023 Convention Underway.” International Labor Communications Association. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://laborcommunicators.org/news-updates/2023-convention-underway
8. “ILCA 2024 Award Winners .” International Labor Communications Association (Google Docs). Accessed May 28, 2025. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1q0hMrjSy6K-w8Z0dipGpug3s7hxb_O-DNqCu2a71Pqk/edit?gid=0#gid=0
9. “ILCA Announces 2024 Contest Winners.” International Labor Communications Association. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://laborcommunicators.org/news-updates/ilca-announces-2024-contest-winners