The Metal Trades Department is a trade department of the AFL-CIO . It was chartered in 1908 to coordinate negotiating, organizing and legislative efforts of affiliated metalworking and related crafts and trade unions. Twenty national and international unions with a total membership of over 5,000,000 are affiliated with the MTD today. More than 100,000 workers in private industry and federal establishments work under contracts negotiated by MTD Councils.
Workers retain membership in their own trade unions.
Finances MTD activities are financed by a monthly per capita tax paid by the international unions on that portion of their membership employed in the metal trades. The MTD convention is the supreme governing body. It meets every four years. Delegates representing international unions and MTD Councils review and develop programs, modernize the constitution, elect officers and fix policy for the MTD and its Concils. The MTD is administered by a president assisted by a full-time staff.