Directly affiliated local union

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A directly affiliated local union (DALU) or federal labor union is a US labor union that belongs to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) but is not a national union and is not entitled to the same rights and privileges within the Federation as national affiliates.

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. The AFL–CIO also takes fiduciary responsibility for the local.

Most DALUs have fewer than 1000 members and represent workers in only one workplace.

DALU status is usually indicated by the sign on a union office or the title of a webpage, e.g., 'DALU Local 2002, AFL–CIO.' The origin of the numbering system is obscure; that one DALU is called 'Local 2002' does not indicate the existence of 2001 other DALUs, either currently or historically.

As of March 3, 2006, there were only six DALUs remaining in the AFL–CIO.