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Glite Dictionary
AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO

11 4.9
A large group that brings many workers' unions together in the United States
  • proper noun
  • /ˌeɪˌɛfˌɛlˈsiˌoʊ/
  • US
translation icon : AFL-CIO
  • Today, the Service Employees International Union supports the immigrant-rights movement, while the AFL-CIO contributes to a range of progressive organizations.

Examples

  • In 1955, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO.

  • Three years ago, the AFL-CIO established a commission that is headed by Secretary/Treasurer Tom Donahue on the future of work.

    Academic text (1990)

  • In 2010, she was elected as Executive Vice President of the national AFL-CIO Executive Council.

    Blog text (19)

  • Above, Norm was listening to the speech by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on July 11, 2010.

    Blog text (22)

  • John Sweeney, the president of the AFL-CIO, visited the leaders of independent unions in Mexico City in 1997.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is a unit of the politically powerful AFL-CIO.

    Blog text (13)

  • In 2006, she was elected executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.

    Blog text (6)

  • The first part of August saw the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO refuse to take a position on the abortion rights issue for the November elections.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Leo Gerard is the president of the United Steelworkers International Union, part of the AFL-CIO.

    Blog text (5)

  • McGovern publicly feuded with AFL-CIO President George Meany, who strongly supported the war in Vietnam.

    Blog text (14)

Synonyms

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
vsAFL-CIO
  • US
5.9

A large group of trade unions in the United States that represents workers

is limited to the United States rather than North America

Surface Forms

AFL-CIO main

Morphology

AFL-CIO = American Federation of Labor + Congress of Industrial Organizations (opaque) = A + F + L + C + I + O

The form is an initialism of two proper names; the letters themselves do not convey meaning to learners unfamiliar with the organizations.

Etymology

AFL-CIO is a name made from two older groups: AFL which stands for 'American Federation of Labor' and CIO which stands for 'Congress of Industrial Organizations', and the two groups joined in 1955. So the name tells you it is a large group of unions working together for workers' rights.