AFL-CIO

American  

[ey-ef-el--see-ahy-oh] / ˈeɪˈɛfˈɛl ˈsiˈaɪˈoʊ /

abbreviation

1. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations: a federation of trade unions formed in 1955 by merger.

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AFL-CIO British  

abbreviation

1. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations: a federation of independent American trade unions formed by the union of these two groups in 1955

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AFL-CIO Cultural  

1. Abbreviation for the American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations, two groups that merged in 1955 to become the largest federation of labor unions in the United States. Member unions, including a variety of workers from machinists to musicians, make up over seventy percent of the unionized labor force in the United States.

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Though officially nonpartisan, the AFL-CIO has strong traditional ties with the Democratic party.

Example Sentences

Two major unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and AFL-CIO, had filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Vought's announced plans to carry out layoffs during the shutdown.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

One analysis by the AFL-CIO estimated that with existing staffing, it would take more than 200 years for inspectors to reach every job site in California.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2025

The AFL-CIO memo argues that California, like any state, has the right to set “minimum employment standards” for workers in the state.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

“Tim Walz has been great,” said Bernie Burnham, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO.

From Slate • Aug. 6, 2024

Pride at Work, a national coalition of gay, bisexual, and transgender workers, becomes an AFL-CIO constituency.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler