AFL-CIO

The AFL-CIO is a federation of 60 national and international labor unions representing 12.5 million workers. It serves as the political voice of organized labor in the United States, lobbying on legislation, supporting political candidates, and coordinating union activities.

Union density in the US has declined from 35% of workers (1954) to about 10% today. The AFL-CIO's influence has declined correspondingly, though recent organizing at Amazon, Starbucks, and in media suggests possible reversal.

Underappreciated Fact

The AFL-CIO doesn't actually negotiate contracts - that's done by member unions. It's primarily a political lobbying and coordination body. Member unions can and do leave (Teamsters, SEIU departed 2005-2013), and the federation has limited power over affiliates' behavior.

Key Facts

Washington, D.C.

Headquarters

Power Dynamics

Formal Power

Coordinates political action for member unions

Actual Power

Declining with union density; member unions can leave or ignore; Democratic Party relationship often one-sided

Veto Points

Member union autonomy
Right-to-work laws in states
NLRB composition (politically appointed)

Key Relationships

Democratic Party (funding and GOTV)
Building trades vs service unions tensions
Public vs private sector unions

Revenue Structure

AFL-CIO Revenue Sources

Per capita dues from member unions 100% ↓

Shrinks with membership

Key Vulnerability

Revenue tied directly to declining union membership; major unions departing devastates budget

Comparison

Unlike European labor federations, has no role in social partnership or corporatist structures

Decision Dynamics at AFL-CIO

Typical Decision Cycle months

Fast Slow

Fastest

Rapid political mobilization for elections

Slowest

Strategic realignment (Change to Win split took years of internal debate)

Key Bottleneck

Consensus among diverse member unions with different priorities

Failure Modes of AFL-CIO

Historical

Change to Win split (2005)
Declining membership for 50 years
Failed labor law reform (Employee Free Choice Act)

Structural Weaknesses

No control over member unions
Tied to declining industries
US labor law hostile environment

Crisis Scenario

If major manufacturing unions continue to decline while new organizing stalls, federation could become politically marginal

Biological Parallel

Behaves Like Colonial organism in terminal decline

Like a Portuguese Man o' War losing zooids. The federation is a colonial superorganism of unions, but the individual colonies (unions) are shrinking or departing. The remaining structure maintains form but has decreasing substance. Recent organizing wins (Amazon Labor Union, Starbucks) are like new buds, but often outside the federation structure.

Key Mechanisms:

colonial declinefragmentationenvironmental mismatch

Key Agencies

Political Department

Electoral and legislative work

Organizing Department

New worker organizing campaigns