Final answer:
The AFL-CIO, a federation of independent unions, comprises 56 autonomous national and international unions and represents over 10 million workers. It was created by the 1955 merger of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).
Step-by-step explanation:
The AFL-CIO is a federation of independent unions and represents a large number of workers across various sectors. When considering the options provided—a. 36, b. 46, c. 56, d. 66—about the number of autonomous national and international unions that comprise the AFL-CIO, the correct answer is c. 56.
Since its founding in 1886 by Samuel Gompers, the AFL (American Federation of Labor) has been instrumental in the improvement of workers' rights including the establishment of the eight-hour workday.
The merger between the AFL and the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) in 1955 created the largest national labor union federation which represents a wide range of laborers and the interests of over 10 million workers.
It is important to understand the historical significance and the challenges that labor unions like AFL-CIO have faced and continue to face in an evolving economic and industrial environment.