The role of the AFL-CIO in the withdrawal from and return to the International Labor Organization

It has been postulated that the AFL-CIO was the critical factor leading to the U.S. withdrawal from the International Labor Organization. This thesis finds this to be the case. The strong hatred of communism by the leadership of the AFL-CIO together with their views that communist representatives had taken over the organization led the AFL-CIO to push for withdrawal in 1977. The views of the AFL-CIO moderated by 1979, due to changes in the ILO and the AFL-CIO leadership, and led the organization to mute its criticisms of the ILO. This change of position led the U.S. to rejoin the ILO. The nature of the AFL-CIO and the ILO contributed to the AFL-CIO's influence, given the ILO's tripartite nature and the AFL-CIO's domestic political clout. The AFL-CIO can be expected to remain the principal domestic influence in the ILO.