The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) is the largest federation of unions in the United States. It is made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 12 million active and retired workers. The AFL–CIO engages in substantial political spending and activism, typically in support of liberal or progressive policies.
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was a national federation of labor unions in the United States that continues today as the AFL-CIO. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions eager to provide mutual support and disappointed in the Knights of Labor. Samuel Gompers was elected the full-time president at its founding convention and reelected every year, except one, until his death in 1924. He became the major spokesperson for the union movement.
John Joseph Sweeney was an American labor leader who served as president of the AFL–CIO from 1995 to 2009.
William George Meany was an American labor union leader for 57 years. He was the key figure in the creation of the AFL–CIO and served as the AFL–CIO's first president, from 1955 to 1979.
Linda Chavez-Thompson is a second-generation Mexican-American and union leader. She was elected the executive vice-president of the AFL-CIO in 1995 and served until September 21, 2007. She is also a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and served as a member of the board of trustees of United Way of America. She was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in the 2010 election.
The Strategic Organizing Center (SOC), formerly known as the Change to Win Federation (CtW) is a coalition of North American labor unions originally formed in 2005 as an alternative to the AFL–CIO. The coalition is associated with strong advocacy of the organizing model. The coalition currently consists of The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT); Service Employees International Union (SEIU); and United Farm Workers (UFW). Communications Workers of America (CWA) is affiliated with both the SOC and AFL–CIO.
A Directly Affiliated Local Union (DALU) or federal labor union is a U.S. labor union that belongs to the AFL–CIO but is not a national union and is not entitled to the same rights and privileges within the Federation as national affiliates.
Massachusetts AFL–CIO is the Massachusetts state affiliate of the American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO). It was founded in 1958.
Florida AFL–CIO is a statewide federation of labor unions in the state of Florida affiliated with the AFL–CIO. The federation's membership consists of about 450 local unions from 41 international unions. The headquarters of the organization are located in Tallahassee, Florida.
The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan Latino organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win federation. It was founded in 1972 to provide Latino trade union members in the United States with a more effective voice within the AFL-CIO, to encourage Latino participation in the democratic process, and to encourage the organization of Latino workers into labor unions.
The Maine AFL–CIO is a federation of AFL–CIO-affiliated labor unions in the state of Maine.
María Elena Durazo is an American politician serving in the California State Senate. A Democrat, she represents the 24th State Senate district, which encompasses Central Los Angeles and East Los Angeles.
Elizabeth H. Shuler is an American labor activist and, since August 5, 2021, President of the AFL–CIO. She is the first woman to be elected president of the federation. She was previously the first woman and the youngest person to hold the position of Secretary-Treasurer. She is the highest-ranking woman in the labor federation's history. From her election to the retirement of Arlene Holt Baker in 2013 was the first time that two of the three officer positions in the AFL–CIO were held by women; her election as president with Fred Redmond succeeding her as Secretary-Treasurer marked the first time two of the three positions were held by African Americans.
The International Plate Printers, Die Stampers and Engravers Union of North America is a North American labor union, one of the constituent members of the Department for Professional Employees of the AFL–CIO; and of the Canadian Labour Congress, founded in 1893. It is the result of a number of mergers of labor unions, and is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland
The Pennsylvania AFL–CIO is a federation of labor unions in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania in the United States. It is an affiliate of the AFL–CIO. It was formed on June 9, 1960, by the merger of two predecessor bodies, the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor and the Pennsylvania Industrial Union Council. It can trace its history through its predecessor bodies to 1890.
Tefere Gebre is an Ethiopian-American labor and human rights activist, and the Chief Program Officer of Greenpeace USA. From 2013 until 2022, he was the Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO.
The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was a federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions in the United States and Canada from 1935 to 1955. Originally created in 1935 as a committee within the American Federation of Labor (AFL) by John L. Lewis, a leader of the United Mine Workers (UMW), and called the Committee for Industrial Organization. Its name was changed in 1938 when it broke away from the AFL. It focused on organizing unskilled workers, who had been ignored by most of the AFL unions.
New York City Central Labor Council (NYCCLC) is the largest local labor membership organization under the direction of the national AFL–CIO. Founded in 1959 the NYCCLC represents over 400 local New York City unions in both the public and private sectors of the New York economy. Of the 11 million total workers represented by the AFL–CIO, the New York City Central Labor Council alone represents close to 15% of its total membership. The organization represents over 1.5 million New York City workers, including teachers, truck drivers, operating engineers, nurses, construction workers, electricians, firefighters, retail workers, janitors, train operators, bakers, etc. The New York Central Labor Council is a labor membership organization devoted to supporting, advancing and advocating for its member organizations and all 'working class' people of New York City.
The Indiana AFL–CIO is the Indiana state affiliate of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO), the largest national trade union center in the United States. It was established by a merger between the state affiliates of American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955. The roughly 400 local affiliates collectively represent approximately 300,000 active and retired workers.
