History of Organized Labor

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National Labor Union 1866 - 1873

1866 - 1873

Led by William H. Sylvis
First national union
Founded to ensure better working conditions, wages, and hours
Included women and African-Americans

Knights of Labor 1869 - 1890s

1869 - 1900

Led by Terrence V. Powderly
Involved any person, skilled or unskilled, including women and minorities
Desired an 8 hour work day, an end to child labor, graduated income tax, and equal pay for equal work
Membership declined sharply after the Haymarket Square Riot of 1886

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

1877

Rail companies cut wages by 10% during and economic depression
Began in West Virginia, then spread nationwide

American Federation of Labor (AFL) 1886 - 1955

1886 - 1955

Led by Samuel Gompers
Made up of skilled laborers
Focused more on on simple economic issues rather than social change
Were able to negotiate more with employers as they were not as easily replaced by "scabs"
Led many successful strikes, including the Pullman Strike of 1892
Merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955 which is still currently active

Pullman Strike of 1884

1894

Conflict between the American Railway Union and railroad companies

International Workers of the World 1905 - Current

1905 - 2013

Led by "Big Bill" Haywood and later Eugene V. Debs
Often conflicted with other unions, who believed it to be too radical
"Wobblies"

Steel Strike of 1919

1919

AFL - CIO Merger 1955

1955 - 2013

American Federation of Labor merges with the Congress of Industrial Organizations