Difference between revisions of "Congress of Industrial Organizations"
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| − | The '''Congress of Industrial Organizations''' (CIO) is an | + | The '''Congress of Industrial Organizations''' (CIO) is an [[American labor unions|American labor union]] formed by [[John L. Lewis]] in the mid 1930s from breakaway unions that previously belonged to the [[American Federation of Labor]] (AFL). One dispute was between skilled and unskilled workers membership in unions. The AFL did not want to cover unskilled workers in their union, but it changed policies and began enrolling them once the CIO was a rival. The CIO organized heavy industry, especially coal, autos, steel and rubber. The CIO and AFL set up rival unions in the garment trades, and for electrical workers and meatpackers. The CIO and AFL fought bitterly in the late 1930s for control of disputed industries. Both grew very rapidly during [[World War II]], and both supported the [[New Deal Coalition]] of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and [[Harry S. Truman]]. After Lewis quit in 1940 [[Sidney Hillman]] became the most powerful CIO leader. |
Many Communists held positions of power in the CIO until they were purged in 1947-48. [[Walter Reuther]] of the autoworkers [[UAW]] was the most influential leader. Reuther helped purge the Communists and promoted an anti-Communist foreign policy as well as liberalism on economic issues. The CIO reunited with the AFL in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO, which remains the largest coalition of labor unions. | Many Communists held positions of power in the CIO until they were purged in 1947-48. [[Walter Reuther]] of the autoworkers [[UAW]] was the most influential leader. Reuther helped purge the Communists and promoted an anti-Communist foreign policy as well as liberalism on economic issues. The CIO reunited with the AFL in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO, which remains the largest coalition of labor unions. | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | * [[American labor unions]] | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
Revision as of 03:31, November 27, 2008
The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) is an American labor union formed by John L. Lewis in the mid 1930s from breakaway unions that previously belonged to the American Federation of Labor (AFL). One dispute was between skilled and unskilled workers membership in unions. The AFL did not want to cover unskilled workers in their union, but it changed policies and began enrolling them once the CIO was a rival. The CIO organized heavy industry, especially coal, autos, steel and rubber. The CIO and AFL set up rival unions in the garment trades, and for electrical workers and meatpackers. The CIO and AFL fought bitterly in the late 1930s for control of disputed industries. Both grew very rapidly during World War II, and both supported the New Deal Coalition of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. After Lewis quit in 1940 Sidney Hillman became the most powerful CIO leader.
Many Communists held positions of power in the CIO until they were purged in 1947-48. Walter Reuther of the autoworkers UAW was the most influential leader. Reuther helped purge the Communists and promoted an anti-Communist foreign policy as well as liberalism on economic issues. The CIO reunited with the AFL in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO, which remains the largest coalition of labor unions.
See also
Bibliography
- Bernstein, Irving. Turbulent Years: A History of the American Worker, 1933-1941 (1970), the best overview of the era
- Dubofsky, Melvyn and Warren Van Time John L. Lewis (1986).
- Fraser, Steve. Labor Will Rule: Sidney Hillman and the Rise of American Labor (1993). excerpt and text search
- Galenson, Walter. The CIO Challenge to the AFL: A History of the American Labor Movement, 1935-1941 (1960) online editiononline edition
- Lichtenstein, Nelson. Labor's War at Home: The CIO in World War II (2003)
- Millis, Harry A. and Royal E. Montgomery. Organized Labor (1945) online edition
- Zieger, Robert H. The CIO, 1935-1955 (1995) online edition, the standard scholarly history
