The AFL-CIO has over 15 million members. The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations has a complex history, but it is this history that helps explain the current structure of the AFL-CIO. There were certainly times when the unions and management were in direct conflict. There were situations where the unions were thought to engage in illegal activities. The union movement went through growing pains, and through a variety of experiences with management and the laws of the country, the union matured and took on more of a business perspective. The AFL-CIO and its leaders from the past help define the labor movement in the U.S. and help define where the union movement is today.
(a) Compare and contrast the AFL-CIO (federation) national and local unions in the following dimensions: officers, structure and organization, functions, political activities, etc.
(b) As you compare and contrast these components, be sure to weave in the historical elements that help us understand the current structure of the union.