The center maintains this site, which features educational resources, such as a chronology of american labor history, information on the roles that women and african americans played in the labor movement, labor. The two long books cover a lot of territory, but they succeed in putting labor history in context. I can analyze the role of labor unions and the american federation of labor in changing working conditions. Primary sources in history mattersmany pasts george mason university and the city. Alexander graham bell, george washington carver, and thomas edison. Its not a book to read straight through as much as a reference to investigate eras and concepts, but its wellwritten, accessible, and it has pictures. Samuel gompers was the first president of the american federation. In 1909, the american federation of labor coined it as a prequel to labor day itself on the books since 1894. American labor history american federation of labor. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. American federation of labor congress of industrial organizations aflcio, american federation of autonomous labor unions formed in 1955 by the merger of the afl founded 1886, which originally organized workers in craft unions, and the cio founded 1935, which organized workers by industries. This article sets the scene for the dawn of labor unions, explores the history of workers rights, and explains the strategies they still use today.
American federation of labor founded in 1886, the federation of organized trades and labor unions became the american federation of labor or afl. It became a powerful force in fighting for workers rights through strikes and through politics. A local regional body of the aflcio made up of unions from all industries in the area that work together on issues of common interest. History and tyranny american federation of teachers. A wikipedia article about this author is available. Organized in 1886 by samuel gompers as the american federation of labor afl a. The impact of labor unions on worker rights and on other. Afscme governance american federation of state, county and.
American federation of laborcongress of industrial. In 1955, when the two major us labor federations, the american federation of labor afl and congress of industrial organizations cio merged to form a single federation, the aflcio, about 38% of workers in the private sector were covered by collective contracts. A brief history of american unions updated 102517 please i. Carpenters strike leads to first eighthour workday the philadelphia carpenters union went on strike in 1890. Skurzynskis skillful, clear style i encountered the literal world of sweat and blood as i followed the lives.
Melvyn dubofsky, a historian of us workingclass history whose body of work focuses on the 1870s to the present, is a distinguished professor emeritus of history and sociology at binghamton universitysuny joseph a. American labors responsibility in its second century is to adjust to the new conditions, so that it may achieve. In other words, there is no substitute for the labor union. With an appendix showing the history and aims of the american federation of labor 10th edition, 1902, by william trant multiple formats at filed under.
The new federation marked a break with the past, for it denied to labor reform any further role in the struggles of american workers. With some noteworthy exceptions, however, contemporary labor historians have failed to confront the fundamental issue. American labor history herbert hill much recent labor history has been devoted to studies of black workers and to the racial practices of labor unions. Above, the american labor studies center is dedicated to disseminating labor history and curricula. I can examine the contributions and impact of inventors on american society, including. Labor unions in the united states are organizations that represent workers in many industries recognized under us labor law. If you were not a union member, someone in your family or someone on. Samuel gompers of the cigar makers international union was elected president at its founding convention. Okay, i hate to admit it, but i could never comprehend the need for american unions that is until i read the stunning new book by gloria skurzynski. Samuel gompers and the american federation of labor. The first of these was the national labor union formed in 1866. The american federation of labor afl was a national federation of labor unions in the united. A research guide to primary and secondary sources for labor history.
Although such agreements often broke down in periods. In late 1920, the american labor movement was at a critical juncture. A century of american labor revised and expanded edition politics and society in modern america nelson lichtenstein 4. The history of slavery and the abolition struggle to end it is part of the labor.
A brief history of labor unions in the united states. Comprising approximately 172,300 items 328,445 images digitized. Unions generally support the war less than 1% lost productivity to strike 2. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. An epochal year multiple formats at american federation of labor. Cannery workers and farm laborers union, local 7 records, 19151985. Oct 22, 2019 given this long history, many of these titles have gone out of print. Commonlit workers rights and the history of labor unions. The national labor union was created in 1866 to convince congress to limit the workday for federal employees to eight hours, but the private sector was much harder for unions to penetrate. As they knew, aristotle warned that inequality brought instability, while plato. List of books and articles about labor unions online. The afl was founded in 1886 by twentyfive national craft unions, including printers, machinists, and building trades.
About this collection american federation of labor records. In 1884, the federation of organized trades and labor unionsthe precursor to the american federation of labor afl passed a resolution declaring that eight hours shall constitute a legal days labour from and after may 1, 1886 and called on labor organizations across the country to. American federation of labor records library of congress. The american federation of labor, struggling to affirm a moderate stance in the trade. Unions constrained by the smithconnolly antistrike act 3. American labor history american federation of labor trade. Some of these unions such as the four operating railroad brotherhoods, all organized. The 28,000man union strike was effective, leading to a guarantee of an eighthour. The american federation of labor was a union of unions. Fixed standards of apprenticeship and of wages, hours, and working conditions were drafted. American federation of labor and congress of industrial organizations, 1916. The records of the american federation of labor afl span the years 18831925 and consist of letterpress volumes of correspondence of samuel gompers 18501924 and william green 18701952, presidents of the organization, and by other officials including james duncan, gabriel edmonston, frank keyes foster, and john mcbride. American federation of labor the online books page.
Unions grudgingly support wage ceilings in industry b. The next major union to form was the american federation of labor sometimes called the afl. The founding of the american federation of labor afl by several unions of skilled workers in 1886 marked the beginning of a continuous largescale labour movement in the united states. As the founding fathers debated our constitution, they took instruction from the history they knew. That policy brought them into conflict with the established craft unions, who joined together to form the american federation of labor afl. Together, the books in this study represent a significant.
The wagner act was the most important labor law in american history and earned the nickname labor s bill of rights. The american federation of labor, struggling to affirm a moderate stance in the trade union movement, moved to defend itself against mounting charges of disloyalty and radicalism. Labor union, america in the 1920s, primary sources for teachers. The afl is credited with successfully negotiating wage increases for its members and enhancing workplace safety for all workers. The american federation of labor afl was the first federation of labor unions in the united states. A history of the labour movement in glasgow, 191032 illus. Report of proceedings first national conference on workers education in the united states american federation of labor. Page 3 an american federation of all national and international trade unions, to aid and assist each other. First, from the late 19 th century to 1941, reformers sought to remove children from the workplace whether factory, field, or tenement house and to encourage more extended school attendance. Goal is to empower and create union owned businesses smaller and not factory based a. Association for education a curriculum of united states labor history for. Apr 02, 2019 the national labor union was created in 1866 to convince congress to limit the workday for federal employees to eight hours, but the private sector was much harder for unions to penetrate. Major strikes there were several major strikes that took place during the industrial revolution.
Its president was samuel gompers a dutchjewish immigrant who was a cigar maker by trade. American federation of labor, the challenge acceptedlabor will not be outlawed or enslaved, the american federationist, april 1921, first page details. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. Afscme governance american federation of state, county. American federation of labor author of report of the. Knights of labor, the american federation of labor afl. It represented skilled trades that had their roots in medieval european guilds. A history of labor unions from colonial times to 2009. Mccartin, a historian of the us labor movement and 20thcentury us social and political history, is a professor of history at georgetown university, where he has taught since 1999. A wikipedia article about this author is available american federation of labor. The records of the american federation of labor afl span the years. Directory of labor unions in the united states, 1953. The group changed its name from wlu to the more familiar alu moniker in 1902 at its fifth.
Independent unions appearing in the directory are estimated to have between 2 and 2. Looking back on the mix of local autonomy and progressive solidarity which were staples of the knights of labor, a particularly significant moment was the 1886 general assembly in richmond, va. Concerned that the democratic republic they envisioned would collapse, they contemplated the descent of ancient democracies and republics into oligarchy and empire. Samuel gompers of the cigar makers international union was elected president of the federation at its founding convention and was reelected every. The history of child labor in the american workplace can be divided, roughly, into four periods. A finding aid pdf and html to the american federation of labor records is. Crispin was founded in the northeast in 1867 and claimed 50,000 members by 1870, by far the largest union in the country. United states history gilded age imperialism unit the growth of labor unions powerpoint presentation. Do labor unions have a future in the united states. By 1949, the last remnants of the order would disband, and the noble and holy order of the knights of labor would only have a presence in the history books. Samuel gompers, john mcbride, william green, aflcio. The knights, thereafter, declined in numbers and effectiveness. Labor unions were the workers solution to this problem.
The labor movement in america making american citizens. Jul 01, 2019 labor organization from toledo and vicinity. It was founded in columbus, ohio, in may 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the knights of labor, a national labor association. The american federation of labor afl was organized in 1886. American federation of labor is the author of proceedings of twentyninth annual convention, massachusetts state branch, american federation of labor 5. The tradition of 20thcentury us unionism was largely the work of the american federation of labor afl and its leader, samuel gompers. The labor movement gained strength in the 1850s in such crafts as typographers, molders, and carpenters. Their activity today centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions for their membership, and on representing their members in disputes with management over violations of contract provisions. During gompers presidency, the afl rose to more than 4 million members by 1920, after which its membership declined until 1933, when it was not much more than 2 million. I can identify samuel gompers as the founder of the american federation of labor.
This organization helped persuade congress to set a federal eighthour workday, which applied to government employees illinois labor history society. The national labor union nlu, founded in 1866, was the second national labor federation in the united states. It forbade employers from engaging in five types of labor practices. It was at this meeting that the american federation of labor. New groups continued to form during this era including the knights of labor and the american federation of labor afl. It is the american federation of labor officially talking to you as you read, not an individual author.
Thanks to a grant from the national endowment for the humanities, the press, in collaboration with temple university libraries, has reissued 30 outstanding labor studies books in pdf, epub, and mobi formats and made them freely available online. When the federation of organized trades and labor unions gathered in. This presentation includes the importance of unions, national labor union, knights of labor, goals, successes, american federation of labor, and more. The american labor union alu was a radical labor organization launched as the western labor union wlu in 1898. In the past, when workers were mistreated by their employers, there was nothing they could do about it. Under his leadership, the afl became the largest and most influential labor federation in the world. Free labor history books from temple university press urpe. A brief history of american unions free, books, vdeos. Every delegate who presented a proposition, discussed any issue or in any way left the impress of his thoughts on the trade union movement will recognize the result of his work in the book. American federation of labor history, encyclopedia. A short history of american labor this brief history of more than 100 years of the modem trade union movement in the united states can only touch the high spots of activity and identify the principal trends of a century of achievement. Its member groups comprised national trade or craft unions that organized local unions and negotiated wages, hours, and working. That is a tragedy, because labor played and continues to play a key role in the development of american democracy and the american way of life. Filled with unforgettable characters who claim monumental places in american history, dray captures the personalities that carved the labor movement into the annals of american history.
The roots of our countrys trade unions extend deep into the early history of america. Few books move with the power and ease of there is power in a union. Labor union, america in the 1920s, primary sources for. The coolidge era and the consumer economy, 19211929 library of congress, american memory. This presentation includes the importance of unions, national labor union, knights of labor, goals, successes, american federation of labor. History of union busting in the united states wikipedia. Jan 31, 2008 discusses the popular labor unions, leaders and tactics used. A short history of american labor american labor studies center.
Founded in 1881, it was a federation of national trade unions, each composed of members of a particular craft such as locomotive engineers or carpenters. Letterpress books containing correspondence of samuel gompers and william green, presidents of the american federation of labor. In part, the assertion of trade union supremacy stemmed from. The american federation of labor afl was a national federation of labor unions in the united states founded in columbus, ohio, in december 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the knights of labor, a national labor union. Samuel gompers was the first and longestserving president of the american federation of labor afl. About this collection american federation of labor. A workplace in which all employees must be members of. The american federation of labor afl gradually displaced the knights of labor. In december of 1886, the same year the knights of labor was dealt its fatal blow at haymarket square, gompers met with the leaders of other craft unions to form the american federation of labor.