Our Story

Even before the advent of collective bargaining, workers and their families bonded together to look out for one another. In the early days, when workers struck for fair wages, safer working conditions, and respect and dignity, or they lost employment through lay-off or injury, they went without pay and benefits, and sometimes without food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities. To help each other, workers created “community chests” to help provide assistance to those in need, and since then, the AFL-CIO has developed a network of labor community services liaisons and labor agencies through an 80-year partnership with United Way Worldwide.
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The Community Services Agency of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO was formed in 1991, and is the only labor-sponsored social services agency for the metro Washington area serving the District of Columbia, suburban Northern Virginia, and the Maryland counties of Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's.
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CSA is a campaign participant in the United Way of the National Capital Area, the Combined Federal Campaign, the DC ONE Fund and the Maryland Charity Campaign.