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

In 2000, the AFL-CIO held an “alternative roadshow” to campaign against PetroChina’s IPO, which scared off some potential investors.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Perhaps more importantly, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, speaking for her 15 million members, issued a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2025

Others included AFL-CIO President Elizabeth Shuler - a major union leader - and Brent Booker, the president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2024

“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

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