When Was the American Federation of Labor Founded?
On August 2, 1881, 21 trade unionists met in Terre Haute, Indiana, to discuss the possibilities of a new national federation of labor. Out of that meeting came a call for an international trades union congress to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 15, 1881. That meeting resulted in the founding of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada (FOTLU). This predecessor organization faced difficulties with the powerful Knights of Labor and in coping with labor's pressing problems. In 1886, 31 national unions founded the American Federation of Labor. [TOP]
Who Has Served as President of the AFL?
Samuel Gompers (Cigar Makers): 1886-1894; 1895-1924
John McBride (Mine Workers): 1894-1895
William Green (Mine Workers): 1924-1952
George Meany (Plumbers): 1952-1955 [TOP]
Where has the AFL been headquartered?
1887: 332 E. Eighth Street, New York, NY
1888: 171 E. 91st Street, New York, NY
1889-1892: 21 Clinton Place, New York, NY
1892-1894: 14 Clinton Place, New York, NY
1895-1897: Indianapolis, IN
1897-1916: 423 G Street NW, Washington, DC
1916-1955: 901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC [TOP]
Who Has Served as President of the CIO?
John L. Lewis (Mine Workers): 1938-1940
Philip Murray (Mine Workers): 1940-1952
Walter P. Reuther (Auto Workers): 1952-1955 [TOP]
Who Has Served as President of the AFL-CIO?
George Meany (Plumbers): 1955-1979
J. Lane Kirkland (Masters, Mates & Pilots): 1979-1995
Thomas Donahue (Service Employees): 1995
John J. Sweeney (Service Employees): 1995- [TOP]
What Does Labor Want?
Samuel Gompers declared in 1893 to the International Labor Congress in Chicago, Illinois: "We want more school houses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more constant work and less crime; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful and childhood more happy and bright." [TOP]
