About the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 national unions that collectively represent millions of professional and technical workers across the United States in all industries and occupations.

DPE ensures union professionals have a strong, united voice in federal policymaking and within the broader labor movement. We advance legislative and regulatory priorities developed in partnership with our affiliated unions, focusing on policies that:

  • Expand access to a union for professionals

  • Protect professional integrity

  • Advance a worker-centered approach to immigration

We also develop sector-specific agendas that include leading the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition and the Nonprofit Unions Coalition. These coordination efforts help advance shared priorities affecting professionals nationwide. 

Beyond policy work, DPE strengthens affiliate unions through various support initiatives, including:

  • Organizing assistance

  • Member engagement strategies

  • Research

  • Communicating the value of union membership for professionals

DPE helps professionals build power and ensures that unions representing today's highly skilled workforce play a leading role in shaping the future of work.

Learn more about our work

DPE Officers and General Vice Presidents

Chair of the General Board
Fedrick Ingram
Secretary-Treasurer
American Federation of Teachers

President
Jennifer Dorning
President
Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO

First Vice President
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator
Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

Treasurer
Matt Biggs
President
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers

General Vice Presidents
Roxanne Brown
International President
United Steelworkers

Pamela Greenwalt
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

Everett Kelley
National President
American Federation of Government Employees

Tyler McIntosh
Political/Legislative Director
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

Brandon Nessen
Organizing Director
Office and Professional Employees International Union

Ken Shirk
International Secretary-Treasurer
American Federation of Musicians

James Slevin
National President
Utility Workers Union of America

Alvin Vincent, Jr.
Executive Director
Actors’ Equity Association

Sam Wheeler
Executive Director
Writers Guild of America East

Jennifer Dorning

DPE President’s Message

DPE is the leading voice for the diverse array of professionals in the labor movement. DPE was created by visionary labor leaders who recognized the potential for growth in both the professional workforce and professionals in unions. Unions representing professionals sought their own trade department to foster collaboration and ensure professionals had a voice in the labor movement and, in 1977, DPE was chartered.

More than forty years later, DPE remains a vital resource for unions representing and organizing professionals. Professionals are the fastest growing sector in the U.S. workforce and the labor movement. DPE’s expertise makes it an indispensable resource for research, organizing, policy and legislation, and communications. DPE’s facilitation of collaboration among affiliates remains a foundational component of our work.

DPE works with affiliates to reach the 50 million nonunion professionals in the United States in innovative ways. DPE’s work is making it possible for its affiliates to launch low-cost campaigns to generate organizing leads and develop the messages necessary to organize professionals.

I am honored to lead this thriving, forward-thinking coalition. Together, we strengthen our unions, grow our movement, and improve the lives of professionals.

— Jennifer Dorning