The AFL-CIO is a federation of labor unions representing working men and women across the United States and internationally. There are currently 65 independently chartered AFL-CIO unions. These unions have joined together for basically the same purpose as CSEA, as stated in the AFL-CIO Constitution, to aid workers in securing improved wages, hours and working conditions with due regard for the autonomy, integrity and jurisdiction of the charter unions. Independently chartered unions retain complete autonomy and are not subject to trusteeship in any form.
Affiliation means that a union is merged with a parent union.
The parent union has the authority to place the merged union in trusteeship and effectively control the merged union. CSEA has always been and continues to be opposed to affiliating with any other union. Not only are unions free to leave on their own, but recently the UAW left and chose to come back, when their problem was resolved. CSEA will always retain the right to vote to terminate the charter. CSEA is a member run organization.