The nascent labor movement in the mid 19th century saw organizations like the National Labor Union (NLU) that was founded in 1866 and dissolved in 1873, but the resources on this page are specific to the Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labor, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and the AFL-CIO. The histories of these organizations are complicated and often intertwined, so this overview is very abbreviated and only intended to provide a few pertinent facts and a bit of context.

Knights of Labor

The Knights of Labor (Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor often abbreviated as K of L), was founded in 1869 and dissolved in 1886. It was very active in the Pennsylvania coal mines and with steel workers and is associated with what is known as the Haymarket Affair. It was also involved in the railroads and was a party to a number of notable events including Great Southwest railroad strike of 1886. One of its most notable leaders was Terence V. Powderly.

Federation of Organized Trades & Labor Unions (FOTLU) / American Federation of Labor (AFL)

The Federation of Organized Trades & Labor Unions (FOTLU) was created in 1881 and was allied with the Cigar Makers' International Union (CMIU) and Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. In 1886, FOTLU became the American Federation of Labor and its leaders include Richard Powers, Samuel Gompers, Patrick H. McLogan, and William McClelland.

The AFL (sometimes seen as A. F. of L.) grew slowly, but the fight over the "open shop" movement of the early 20th century helped strengthen the organization. In the years after World War I, it became more powerful and was particularly associated with the various building trades. The Great Depression eroded the AFL, but the passage of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (known as the Wagner Act) improved their fortunes. That same year, a group of its members left to form the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) over issues related to skilled craftsmen and the semiskilled trades. However, in 1955, the AFL and CIO merged to become the AFL–CIO.

The AFL's first and longest serving president was Samuel Gompers, but other presidents include John McBride, William Green, and George Meaney, who also served as the first president of the new AFL-CIO.

Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was created as a committee within the AFL by John L. Lewis, a leader of the United Mine Workers. In 1935, a number of members including Lewis left the AFL to create the CIO and Lewis served as its first president, followed by Philip Murray and then Walter Reuther. The affiliates that made up the CIO included those who worked in mining, manufacturing, shipbuilding, garment trade, transportation, textiles, etc. Membership in unions grew during World War II, but the passage of the Taft–Hartley Act of 1947 negatively impacted the organization. The law required union leaders to sign affidavits that said they were not supporters of the Communist Party, but a number of the unions were led by members who had communist sympathies. Eventually, the CIO purged communists from its ranks and when Walter Reuther took over as president, discussions about merging with the AFL began.

AFL-CIO

In 1955, the AFL merged with the CIO. George Meany became the first president and served as such for many years. Other leaders include Lane Kirkland, Thomas R. Donahue, John J. Sweeney, Richard Trumka, and Liz Shuler.

Today it represents millions of active and retired workers in the United States and is run by its members. It is made up of several departments:

North American Building Trades Department
Maritime Trades Department
Metal Trades Department
Department for Professional Employees
Transportation Trades Department
Union Label Department

There are also a number of constituency groups including: A. Philip Randolph Institute, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Pride At Work, and Union Veterans Council.

AFL-CIO TODAY

If you are looking to research the current activities of any of the AFL-CIO, websites and articles are going to be your best resources.

Below are a few resources related to the organizations mentioned above. There are more general resources related to labor history that may include discussions related to the above organizations on the Internet Resources page. Additionally, the Research Collections page will include links to research institutions that contain significant labor-related material.