Legally, the AFL–CIO is the parent union of each DALU, and is responsible for filing financial disclosure forms with federal and state authorities and providing bargaining support.
Article XV of the AFL–CIO constitution authorizes the federation to issue charters to 'directly affiliated local unions,' although many trade departments of the AFL–CIO do not.
But DALUs remained few in number until the early 1930s when the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) challenged the AFL's craft unionism policies.
Many of the disaffiliated unions provided the majority of members, staff and funds to AFL-CIO state federations and central labor councils.
These trade departments had established highly complex recognition, hiring hall and jurisdictional agreements in their respective industries.
Receipt of a solidarity charter also requires the CTW local to agree not to raid an existing AFL–CIO affiliate or interfere in an AFL–CIO organizing campaign.
In December 2005, the Metal Trades Department amended its constitution and bylaws to permit CTW unions to receive solidarity charters as well.
A number of CTW international unions subsequently received solidarity charters from the Metal Trades and BCTD.
Faced with declining AFL–CIO membership and criticism of his tenure as president, John Sweeney strong-armed the AFL–CIO executive council into voting to approve both affiliations.
But with the loss of several million members due to the disaffiliation of the CTW unions, the AFL–CIO sought to change the 2001 affiliation criteria.
DLAs, however, will have to pay a per capita tax to the AFL–CIO, and the AFL–CIO will then distribute this money to the appropriate state, area and local central labor bodies.