AFL-CIO marker a memorial to unions in Alabama
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/life/2014/08/31/afl-cio-marker-memorial-unions-alabama/14893507/
Jeff Benton 11:31 p.m. CDT August 30, 2014
The one-story, non-descript, mid-century building at 435 S. McDonough St. almost appears to be deserted. Only a granite marker distinguishes it from similar neighboring buildings.
The 5½-foot marker consists of red granite in the shape of the state of Alabama with the image of a handshake, as well as a gray granite plinth, or base, with the inscription AFL-CIO. At one time when Alabama was the most industrialized and most unionized Southern state AFL and CIO would have been almost universally recognized. Today, however, most would be puzzled if asked what the letters mean.
The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations were rivals until 1955, when the two merged. One hand on the marker represents the AFL and the other the CIO; the handshake represents the 1955 merger. In the 1950s, 35 percent of American workers were unionized; today only nine percent are the results of the de-industrialization of the United States and of manufacturing moving off shore.
Today, the AFL-CIO represents less than 10 million unionized workers. The federation is made up of about 60 national and international unions, representing almost all unionized workers in the country. The largest member union is the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents about 1.5 million workers.
FULL story at link.