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Coal mine leader [[John L. Lewis]] led a group of industrial unions to break away in the 1930s to form the [[CIO]].  The two federations competed furiously, even violently.  The AFL was always larger, and added more members in the late 1930s and World War II era, while avoiding the radicalism of the CIO.  William Green was president (1925-1952),  but after 1940 the dominant leader was William Meany (1894-1980), former head of the New York State Federation of Labor.

Coal mine leader [[John L. Lewis]] led a group of industrial unions to break away in the 1930s to form the [[CIO]].  The two federations competed furiously, even violently.  The AFL was always larger, and added more members in the late 1930s and World War II era, while avoiding the radicalism of the CIO.  William Green was president (1925-1952),  but after 1940 the dominant leader was William Meany (1894-1980), former head of the New York State Federation of Labor.

The AFL was always hostile to Communists, especially as they were powerful inside the rival CIO. The AFL boycotted the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), formed in 1945, because of it for its decision to admit Soviet trade unions. Attacking them as creatures of the Soviet state, the AFL was instrumental in establishing a rival federation, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), which eventually won the allegiance of all labor federations save those of the Soviet Union and its satellites. The AFL hailed the [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] administration's [[Cold War]] policies and strongly supported American military intervention in the [[Korean War]]. Corruption in labor unions became a major political issues in the 1950s. Meany convinced the AFL expel the racketeer-influenced International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) in 1953, and several other corrupt affiliates, most notably the Teamsters union, several years later.  

The AFL was always hostile to Communists, especially as they were powerful inside the rival CIO. The AFL boycotted the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), formed in 1945, because of it for its decision to admit Soviet trade unions. Attacking them as creatures of the Soviet state, the AFL was instrumental in establishing a rival federation, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), which eventually won the allegiance of all labor federations save those of the Soviet Union and its satellites. The AFL hailed the [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] administration's [[Cold War]] policies and strongly supported American military intervention in the [[Korean War]]. Corruption in labor unions became a major political issues in the 1950s. Meany convinced the AFL to expel the racketeer-influenced International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) in 1953, and several other corrupt affiliates, most notably the [[Teamsters Union]], several years later.  

After years of bitter rivalry the two re-united in 1955 as the [[AFL-CIO]].  Another split took place in 2006, as the AFL-CIO steadily lost membership and influence in the private sector.  However it has gained in strength with the public sector unions, and continues to be an influential force for liberal policies inside the [[Democratic party]].

After years of bitter rivalry the two re-united in 1955 as the [[AFL-CIO]].  Another split took place in 2006, as the AFL-CIO steadily lost membership and influence in the private sector.  However it has gained in strength with the public sector unions, and continues to be an influential force for liberal policies inside the [[Democratic party]].

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==