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The '''American Federation of Labor''' or '''AFL''' was a confederation of [[American labor unions|labor unions]] in the U.S., 1886 to 1955. Its great leader was [[Samuel Gompers]] (1850-1924). The rival [[Congress of Industrial Organizations]] (CIO) broke away in 1937, to form a rival federation.  The two merged in 1955 as the [[AFL-CIO]] ("American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations"). The [[AFL-CIO]] has had a cyclical history, with growth spurts around 1900-1910, 1917-20, 1935-60, and declines in the 1920s and in recent years, Politically it has been closely tied to the Democratic Party on the national level since 1910. Likewise the state and city affiliates have usually been tied to the Democrats, with some exceptions.  It has strongly opposed socialism and government ownership of business, and has supported capitalism, while at all times seeking higher wages, restricted work rules, pensions, health care, grievance procedures, and seniority for its members, as well as retirement benefits for its retired members.  A central theme was that certain jobs "belonged" to union members and non-members must be stopped from taking them, especially during strikes. This often led to dehumanizing of workers on both sides; non-union workers commonly being refereed to as "scabs" and being socially ostracized; violent attacks by both sides were not uncommon.  Many violent confrontations took place between AFL/CIO union supporters and the supporters or management/strike breakers. Efforts by unions belonging to the AFL and CIO in the later part of the 19th and early 20th centuries are generally credited with establishing concepts of a 40-hour work week, overtime pay, paid vacations, pensions, and medical benefits for blue-collar working Americans.

The '''American Federation of Labor''' or '''AFL''' was a confederation of [[American labor unions|labor unions]] in the U.S., 1886 to 1955. Its great leader was [[Samuel Gompers]] (1850-1924). The rival [[Congress of Industrial Organizations]] (CIO) broke away in 1937, to form a rival federation.  The two merged in 1955 as the [[AFL-CIO]] ("American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations"). The [[AFL-CIO]] has had a cyclical history, with growth spurts around 1900-1910, 1917–20, 1935–60, and declines in the 1920s and in recent years, Politically it has been closely tied to the Democratic Party on the national level since 1910. Likewise the state and city affiliates have usually been tied to the Democrats, with some exceptions.  It has strongly opposed socialism and government ownership of business, and has supported capitalism, while at all times seeking higher wages, restricted work rules, pensions, health care, grievance procedures, and seniority for its members, as well as retirement benefits for its retired members.  A central theme was that certain jobs "belonged" to union members and non-members must be stopped from taking them, especially during strikes. This often led to dehumanizing of workers on both sides; non-union workers commonly being refereed to as "scabs" and being socially ostracized; violent attacks by both sides were not uncommon.  Many violent confrontations took place between AFL/CIO union supporters and the supporters or management/strike breakers. Efforts by unions belonging to the AFL and CIO in the later part of the 19th and early 20th centuries are generally credited with establishing concepts of a 40-hour work week, overtime pay, paid vacations, pensions, and medical benefits for blue-collar working Americans.

==Origins==

==Origins==

Gompers promoted harmony among the different craft unions that comprised the AFL. Focused on higher wages and job security, the AFL fought against socialism and the Socialist party, as well as the radical anti-capitalist union, [[IWW]]. After 1907 it formed alliances with the [[Democratic party]] at the local, state and national levels. The AFL enthusiastically supported the war effort in World War I, and saw rapid growth in union membership and wage rates.  

Gompers promoted harmony among the different craft unions that comprised the AFL. Focused on higher wages and job security, the AFL fought against socialism and the Socialist party, as well as the radical anti-capitalist union, [[IWW]]. After 1907 it formed alliances with the [[Democratic party]] at the local, state and national levels. The AFL enthusiastically supported the war effort in World War I, and saw rapid growth in union membership and wage rates.  

The AFL strenuously opposed unrestricted immigration from Europe because it lowered wages, and opposed any immigration at all from Asia for the previous reason and also because it brought an alien culture. The AFL was instrumental in passing immigration restriction laws from the 1890s to the 1920s, and seeing that they were strictly enforced. As Mink shows, the link between the AFL and the Democratic Party rested in large part on immigration issues; the owners of large corporations wanted more immigration and thus supported the [[Republican party]].<ref> Gwendolyn Mink. ''Old labor and new immigrants in American political development: union, party, and state, 1875-1920.'' (1986).</ref>

The AFL strenuously opposed unrestricted immigration from Europe because it lowered wages, and opposed any immigration at all from Asia for the previous reason and also because it brought an alien culture. The AFL was instrumental in passing immigration restriction laws from the 1890s to the 1920s, and seeing that they were strictly enforced. As Mink shows, the link between the AFL and the Democratic Party rested in large part on immigration issues; the owners of large corporations wanted more immigration and thus supported the [[Republican party]].<ref>Gwendolyn Mink. ''Old labor and new immigrants in American political development: union, party, and state, 1875-1920.'' (1986).</ref>

The AFL lost membership in the 1920s, and did not recover from the doldrums until the [[New Deal]] passed the Wagner Act in 1935.  The AFL enthusiastically supported the [[New Deal Coalition]] led by Democrat [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].

The AFL lost membership in the 1920s, and did not recover from the doldrums until the [[New Deal]] passed the Wagner Act in 1935.  The AFL enthusiastically supported the [[New Deal Coalition]] led by Democrat [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].

* Browne, Waldo Ralph. ''What's what in the Labor Movement: A Dictionary of Labor Affairs and Labor'' (1921) 577pp; encyclopedia of labor terms, organizations and history. [http://books.google.com/books?id=epc3AAAAMAAJ&dq=subject:%22Working+class%22+date:1910-2007&num=100&as_brr=1 complete text online]

* Browne, Waldo Ralph. ''What's what in the Labor Movement: A Dictionary of Labor Affairs and Labor'' (1921) 577pp; encyclopedia of labor terms, organizations and history. [http://books.google.com/books?id=epc3AAAAMAAJ&dq=subject:%22Working+class%22+date:1910-2007&num=100&as_brr=1 complete text online]

* Commons, John R. ''History of Labour in the United States'' - vol 1 and Vol. 2 1860-1896 (1918) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=22784998 vol 2 online edition]

* Commons, John R. ''History of Labour in the United States'' - vol 1 and Vol. 2 1860-1896 (1918) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=22784998 vol 2 online edition]

*Dixon, Marc. "Limiting Labor: Business Political Mobilization and Union Setback in the States," ''Journal of Policy History,'' Volume 19, Number 3, 2007, pp. 313-344 [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_policy_history/v019/19.3dixon.html in Project Muse] explains failure to organize in South after WW2 in terms of stronger efforts by corporations.

*Dixon, Marc. "Limiting Labor: Business Political Mobilization and Union Setback in the States," ''Journal of Policy History,'' Volume 19, Number 3, 2007, pp.&nbsp;313–344 [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_policy_history/v019/19.3dixon.html in Project Muse] explains failure to organize in South after WW2 in terms of stronger efforts by corporations.

* Dubofsky, Melvyn, and Foster Rhea Dulles. ''Labor in America: A History'' (2004), textbook  

* Dubofsky, Melvyn, and Foster Rhea Dulles. ''Labor in America: A History'' (2004), textbook  

* Dubofsky, Melvyn, and Warren Van Tine, eds. ''Labor Leaders in America'' (1987) biographies of key leaders, written by scholars [http://www.amazon.com/Leaders-America-Working-American-History/dp/0252013433/ref=sr_1_12/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194848493&sr=1-12 excerpt and text search]

* Dubofsky, Melvyn, and Warren Van Tine, eds. ''Labor Leaders in America'' (1987) biographies of key leaders, written by scholars [http://www.amazon.com/Leaders-America-Working-American-History/dp/0252013433/ref=sr_1_12/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194848493&sr=1-12 excerpt and text search]