From the Ordinary to the Opulent: A Look at Union Buildings in the District

Unions claim to represent the common worker, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and just treatment. However, reality often tells a different story.

The massive, expensive headquarters of these organizations in Washington, DC, stand in stark contrast to the humble narratives of the labor movement. The Teamsters’ headquarters, for example, is a four-story white marble building across from the Capitol, constructed entirely by union labor. Union buildings, often costing millions to construct and maintain, seem designed more to impress government officials than to serve the needs of their members. The funds for these lavish constructions—and the six-figure salaries of union leaders—come from the hard-earned paychecks of the workers these unions claim to represent.

According to the Teamsters’ 990 tax forms, their president Sean O’Brien made a total of $472,793 in 2022. This is not a new trend; in 1983, Teamsters General President Jackie Presser earned $550,000 ($1.74 million in 2024 dollars). If unions truly prioritized their members’ needs, they might reconsider such extravagant expenditures.

Adding to this disconnect are the political leanings of union leadership, which tend to skew left. This left-progressive stance does not always reflect the diverse views of their membership, creating an ideological gap between leaders and the workers they purport to represent. While union officials push for left-leaning policies, the everyday concerns and varied perspectives of workers can often be overshadowed.

This ideological and financial divide between union leadership and their members is not just symbolic but also physically manifested in the luxurious office spaces where union executives operate. These opulent buildings symbolize power and influence but may inadvertently distance leaders from the very workers they claim to serve.

Join us on a tour of a several union headquarters in Washington, DC, where the grandeur of the buildings often outshines the humble roots of the labor they symbolize.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

International Brotherhood of Teamsters AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.

AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.

 Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.

National Education Association (NEA)

National Education Association (NEA) AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.

Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA)

Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.

United Automobile Workers (UAW)

United Automobile Workers (UAW) AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. Credit: Elise Johnson/CRC.