· APTC UNION CERTIFIED · BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES · SINCE 1960
APTC-Certified Union Printing in Los Angeles
Mitchell Printing & Mailers is a longtime member of the Southern California Allied Printing Trades Council. Every piece we produce carries the APTC union bug — the credential California campaigns, labor organizations, and government agencies require on their printed materials.
What Is the APTC Union Bug?
The APTC union bug is a small certification mark issued by the Allied Printing Trades Council — a national labor organization made up of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC/IBT) and the Printing, Publishing, and Media Workers Sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
When the bug appears on a printed piece, it certifies three things: the piece was produced in a fully unionized shop, every worker who touched the job was union labor earning fair wages, and the shop is in good standing with its local Allied Printing Trades Council.
Each certified shop receives a unique label number and city designation, which appears within the bug itself. Mitchell Printing & Mailers carries the bug from the Southern California APTC.
WHO REQUIRES IT
Who Requires APTC-Bugged Printing?
Across California, the following organizations either require or strongly prefer the APTC union bug on printed materials:
Labor Unions & Locals
Every sector — IBEW, SEIU, UFCW, Teamsters, building trades, hospitality, public sector.
Building & Construction Trades Councils
County and regional trades councils requiring union-printed materials for endorsements and member communications.
Endorsed Political Campaigns
Federal, state, and local campaigns that hold labor endorsements or Democratic club endorsements.
Government Agencies & Public Sector
State and local agencies, elected officials, and public-sector offices with union-printed material policies.
Democratic Clubs & County Parties
County Democratic parties, regional clubs, caucuses — most require union-printed materials for slate cards and endorsements.
Labor-Affiliated PACs & IEs
Labor-aligned independent expenditure committees and political action committees.
Union-Affiliated Nonprofits
Community organizations, labor-aligned nonprofits, and worker centers requiring union printing.
Elected Officials
Some elected officials require the bug on all constituent communications, regardless of campaign context.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why the Bug Matters for Your Campaign
Endorsement Compliance
Most major California labor endorsements — and many Democratic club endorsements — require union-printed campaign materials. The APTC bug is the proof of compliance. Without it, some endorsements can be withdrawn or withheld.
Signaling to Labor-Aligned Voters
Union households across Southern California — IBEW, SEIU, UFCW, building trades, teachers, hospitality workers — actively look for the union bug on campaign materials. It signals that the campaign’s values match its vendors.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Union shops are required to maintain training, safety, and craft standards that non-union shops aren’t. The bug isn’t just a labor signal — it’s a quality mark dating back to its first registration in 1949.
Industry Tradition
The Allied Printing Trades Council Union Label is the oldest still-active certification mark registered in the United States, first used in 1911 and first registered as a trademark in 1949. For over a century, it has marked union-made printed materials across the country.
MITCHELL'S CREDENTIAL
How Mitchell Earns the Bug
Mitchell isn’t a commercial shop that contracts with union labor for select jobs. Mitchell is a fully unionized print house — every worker on the floor is a union member, every press operator is trained to union standards, every job runs through the same union production process.
As a longtime member of the Southern California Allied Printing Trades Council, Mitchell carries the official APTC bug with its assigned local number and city designation. The bug appears on every piece we produce — at no extra cost, with no additional negotiation required.
This isn’t a feature we sell. It’s how we print.
FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions About APTC Union Printing
What does the APTC union bug actually look like?
A small circular or oval mark, typically less than half an inch in size, that includes the words “Allied Printing Trades Council Union Label” along with the city and a unique local number identifying the specific union print shop.
How is APTC different from other union bugs?
The APTC bug specifically certifies a multi-union allied shop — combining GCC/IBT (Teamsters Graphic Communications) and CWA Printing Sector standards. Other bugs come from individual unions like GCC/IBT or CWA directly. All certify union labor.
Can the bug be added after printing?
No. The union bug can only appear on materials produced by certified union labor in a union shop. Adding it to non-union printed materials is a misuse of the certification mark and a violation of trademark law.
Does APTC certification cost extra?
Not at Mitchell. The APTC bug is included on every job we produce, at no additional charge. It’s a standard feature of working with a unionized shop, not an upsell.
Where is the bug placed on a printed piece?
Typically discreetly — on the edge of a page, in the inside back area of a folded piece, or in a corner. Sized small (often called a “bug” because it looks like a tiny insect) to be present and verifiable without dominating the design.
What materials can carry the APTC bug?
Almost any printed material: campaign mailers, slate cards, door hangers, palm cards, yard signs, vinyl banners, posters, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, business forms, stickers, decals, and certain vehicle wraps and apparel.
Is the APTC bug required by law for campaigns?
Not by law — but commonly required by labor endorsements, Democratic club endorsements, and the internal policies of many labor-aligned organizations. California campaigns seeking labor or building trades support should treat the bug as effectively required.
Where can I verify a printer's APTC certification?
The Allied Printing Trades Council maintains a directory of certified union print shops at alliedlabel.org. Mitchell Printing & Mailers is listed as a member of the Southern California APTC.
UNION-PRINTED SERVICES
Everything Mitchell Prints With the APTC Bug
Every product and service Mitchell offers carries the APTC union bug:
- Political campaign mailers, slate cards, IE drops, EDDM
- Door hangers, palm cards, walk pieces, GOTV literature
- Yard signs, vinyl banners, event signage
- Campaign buttons, bumper stickers, lapel pins
- Union-made campaign t-shirts and apparel
- Letterhead, envelopes, business cards for unions and elected officials
- Newsletters, programs, convention materials for labor organizations
- Government and public-sector printing requiring union labor
READY TO PRINT
Need the Union Bug on Your Next Print Run?
Call us. Mitchell has been carrying the APTC label for decades — and putting it on every piece we produce since the day we joined the council.
(213) 623-1277 · orders@gotmitchell.com
127 S Anderson St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 · Mon–Fri, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM