In 1964, he moved to become deputy assistant director of the American Institute for Free Labor Development, with responsibility for planning and organization.
[1][2] In 1967, Paladino was appointed as assistant general secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), with the strong support of AFL–CIO President, George Meany.
[1][2] He was given charge of the Department of Organization, with responsibility for relationships with the international trade secretariats, vocational training and co-operative enterprises.
In 1970, the AFL–CIO withdrew from the ICFTU, and Paladino resigned his post, instead becoming director of the Asian-American Free Labor Institute.
[3] Philip Agee alleged that Paladino worked as a Central Intelligence Agency agent while holding his labor movement posts.