AFL-CIO Balancing the Books?

Apparently the AFL-CIO is in dire straits financially and they are routinely toying with the idea of laying off a large number of staff according to one person I know who works at one of their HQ's. This coming at a time when Sweeney and co. are hoping to expand their financial input into the elections. I can access possibly insider info, but does someone want to explain in layman's terms how much of this is common knowledge?