HELENA - As the Montana AFL-CIO prepares for its convention this week, its top leader said the federation is growing and strong, despite having only two employees besides himself after losing a large job-retraining contract.

About 100 union delegates and 100 candidates, other unionists and friends are expected to attend the AFL-CIO's annual convention in Great Falls on Thursday and Friday. Political candidate endorsements top the agenda.

Jim McGarvey, who heads the state AFL-CIO as its executive secretary, said its ranks have grown to slightly more than 35,000 active members, up from 28,000 when he took over in 2005.

Affiliating since then have been unions representing carpenters, ...