The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a federation of national trade unions, state federations, city central bodies ("central labor councils"), and directly-affiliated local trade unions. It was formed in a 1955 merger of the American Federation of Labor (established 1886) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (established 1935).
Region 12 (1986-1997) was created in a 1986 reorganization and included the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota, which were formerly parts of other regions. The regional office oversaw a 2-tiered structure of state federations and central labor councils, the latter apparently including various AFL-CIO trade-union organizations in or associated with particular towns and cities. Ray W. Francis, a native of Chicago who was formerly Assistant Director for Region 1, served as regional director during virtually the entire existence of Region 12. His office was located in Edina, Minnesota. Francis was the third African American regional director in the history of the AFL-CIO.
Francis retired on July 1, 1996. The Region 12 office was closed in early 1997 in yet another reorganization, in which several such regional offices were consolidated into four.
From the guide to the Region 12 records., 1956-1997 (bulk 1986-1996)., (Minnesota Historical Society)
