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

“Two-thirds of these have to do with worker health and safety protections,” says Rebecca Reindel of the AFL-CIO.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 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

“Governor Walz isn’t only an ally to the labor movement, but also our union brother with a deep commitment to a pro-worker agenda,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s main labor federation.

From Slate • Aug. 6, 2024

At Riddick’s request, Wilbur Hobby, the AFL-CIO leader, telephoned C.P. to let him know about the first organizational meeting to be held at the local YWCA.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson