“Earlier this month, General President Terry O’Sullivan announced that the Laborers’ International Union of North America, the NPMHU’s international parent body, would be disaffiliating from the AFL-CIO effective June 1, 2006.  A copy of the letter announcing that disaffiliation has been circulated to all Local Unions.
 
The NPMHU’s relationship with the AFL-CIO presents special challenges.  The NPMHU first became a direct affiliate of the American Federation of Labor in 1937, and subsequently was a direct affiliate of the AFL-CIO from its formation during the 1950s until the NPMHU’s merger with LIUNA in 1968.  Since then, the NPMHU has been an active participant in the AFL-CIO through LIUNA.

O’Sullivan’s letter announcing the disaffiliation specifically notes that LIUNA has been focusing on the issue of solidarity charters, and their possible relationship to “the interests of our National Postal Mail Handlers Union.”  To quote Brother O’Sullivan, “[a]s a union representing workers in the federal sector, the Mail Handlers are faced with special considerations in their relationships with the AFL-CIO and with other postal unions.”  We agree, and therefore we are continuing discussions with the AFL-CIO, as it is the intention of the NPMHU, in conjunction with LIUNA, to try to stay affiliated with the AFL-CIO in some capacity.”

source: National Postal Mail Handlers Union