American Federation Of LaborEdit
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was the preeminent national federation of labor unions in the United States from its founding in 1886 until the mid-20th century. It organized workers through craft unions—associations of workers in the same skilled trades—rather than attempting to bring together all workers in a single industrial union. Under the leadership of Samuel Gompers and his successors, the AFL built a system of collective bargaining, strikes, and mutual aid designed to raise wages, shorten workweeks, improve safety, and protect the bread-and-butter interests of skilled workers. It operated as a federation of independent unions, coordinating strategy while preserving autonomy at the local level.
The AFL’s approach rested on the idea of “pure and simple unionism”: concentrate on concrete, immediate labor grievances—wages, hours, and working conditions—within a framework of law and market discipline. This meant working within the capitalist economy to secure gains for organized workers, rather than pursuing sweeping social reform or wholesale socialist transformation. The result was a durable structure capable of mobilizing millions of workers at key moments, while seeking stability for the broader economy by tempering disruptive labor activity with negotiated settlements.
Origins and Principles
The AFL emerged in the wake of a volatile era for labor in the United States. Craft unions had grown more confident in bargaining power, and leaders like Gompers argued that stable, well-organized skilled workers could drive improvements across industries by pressing for shorter hours and better pay through collective bargaining. The federation rejected the broad, utopian project of some earlier movements in favor of pragmatic, incremental gains achieved through negotiation rather than mass mobilization alone. This focus on skilled trades reinforced the idea that organized labor could be a disciplined, responsible partner in the economy when unions acted with restraint and a clear program.
The AFL also established a practical political stance. It tended to favor policy environments that protected contract rights, promoted wage growth, and reduced disruptive labor conflicts. The federation supported legislation and regulatory frameworks that could facilitate orderly bargaining and protect property rights, while resisting movements that it viewed as destabilizing or imprudent economically. Its emphasis on organized bargaining meant that much of its influence lay in the leverage gained by having unions that could threaten or approve strikes as a last resort.
Key organizational features included a system of local and regional unions federated under a national body, with the intent of preserving craft identities while coordinating bargaining across employers. The AFL’s structure allowed it to quickly mobilize skilled workers in critical sectors, and its leadership cultivated a reputation for disciplined, businesslike negotiation. Throughout its history, the AFL sought to extend membership to more workers and to lift overall living standards, but in practice membership expanded unevenly and certain groups faced barriers to inclusion.
Growth, strategy, and public policy
The AFL’s growth depended on recruiting unions that represented specific trades and could deliver reliable bargaining power. It built alliances with employers on a pragmatic basis and sought to influence public policy in ways that would sustain legal protections for collective bargaining. The organization participated in national campaigns to limit arbitrary labor practices, promote safety standards, and reduce hours without sacrificing productivity. The result was a labor movement that could become a stabilizing force during economic cycles, providing a constructive, order-driven alternative to more radical approaches.
In the realm of public policy, the AFL supported measures that reinforced a predictable labor environment: enforceable contracts, lawful strikes when necessary, and a regulatory framework for labor relations. It often aligned with business interests on matters of macroeconomic policy, tariffs, and immigration if such policies were believed to support steady production and wage stability. The federation’s stance on political questions tended to favor legal predictability and the maintenance of a climate in which negotiated settlements could prevail.
The AFL’s role in major legislative turning points is notable. It contributed to the rise of wage standards and hour reforms in the early 20th century and supported the idea that workers should have a seat at the bargaining table. Its influence helped to shape the public perception of unions as organized, respectable actors capable of delivering tangible benefits to workers and, by extension, to the economy as a whole. The organization also navigated internal tensions between craft unions and broader labor movements, including later shifts toward industrial unionism that would come to define the successors and competitors of the AFL.
Controversies and debates
Like any long-running labor federation, the AFL faced significant debates and controversies, some today viewed through a progressive lens as problematic, others seen as legitimate protections of orderly labor relations.
Exclusion and inclusivity: In its early decades, the AFL was dominated by white, male, skilled workers, and many unions within the federation limited membership by race, gender, or immigrant status. While some affiliates admitted Black workers or women, overall representation lagged behind the broader labor force. This history is a common point of contention for critics who argue that the federation did not do enough to bring all workers into the bargaining table. The federation did, however, include some notable exceptions, such as partnerships with African American workers in certain unions and, later, the integration efforts that occurred as labor markets evolved.
Craft unionism versus industrial unionism: The AFL’s craft-first approach meant strong representation in skilled trades but weaker coverage of unskilled labor and broader sectors. Critics from the industrial unionist tradition argued that this model left large segments of the workforce outside robust bargaining networks, limiting the overall effectiveness of organized labor in moderneconomies. Supporters contended that a disciplined, craft-based structure provided durability and realistic leverage, enabling the unions to secure meaningful gains for skilled workers without destabilizing the broader economy.
Strikes and economic impact: The AFL used strikes as a bargaining tool, particularly in sectors essential to production. When strikes disrupted important industries, they drew public attention and sometimes provoked political and economic backlash. Supporters argued that disciplined strikes were a legitimate means to enforce contracts and protect living standards; detractors claimed that heavy-handed or sporadic strikes could harm consumers, widen political opposition, and encourage regulatory crackdowns.
Race, gender, and civil rights: The AFL’s record on civil rights and labor inclusion evolved over time. The federation’s stance on civil rights intersected with broader political and social currents, including the push for equal rights. From a right-of-center perspective, supporters may emphasize pragmatic inclusion—where possible—while acknowledging the historical reality that widespread participation by minority workers emerged gradually and through internal reform rather than rapid, sweeping changes.
Red scare and anti-communism: In the postwar period, unions faced intense political pressure over alleged communist influence. The AFL, alongside other labor bodies, moved to purge or discipline elements associated with radical politics. Proponents argued this maintained the legitimacy and stability of the labor movement and protected workers from extremist influence; critics argued that anti-communist crackdowns sometimes suppressed legitimate worker activism and dissent.
Legal framework and constraints: The rise of the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) and subsequent restrictions, including the Taft-Hartley Act, changed how the AFL and its successor organizations could organize and bargain. Supporters saw these laws as frameworks that balanced worker rights with business interests and public order; critics believed they sometimes constrained the power of unions and limited their bargaining leverage.
Later history and legacy
In the mid-20th century, the AFL faced competitive pressures from the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which organized industrial unions across entire industries rather than by craft. This tension culminated in a strategic decision to merge, forming the AFL-CIO in 1955, a federation that sought to unify skilled and industrial unions under a single umbrella. The merger reflected a pragmatic assessment that combining the strengths of both approaches could produce greater bargaining power and political influence for the labor movement.
Under the AFL-CIO, the legacy of the AFL continued in a more diversified union landscape. The federation maintained its core emphasis on negotiated settlements, queueing strikes as a last resort, and building membership through on-the-ground organizing in key industries. It also carried forward the tradition of cooperation with lawmakers and business communities to shape labor policy and safeguard stable employment relations. The AFL’s early emphasis on a disciplined, serviceable approach to labor relations helped shape a form of labor activism that valued predictability, rule of law, and measurable gains in wage and hour standards.
In historical terms, the AFL’s contributions to worker protections—through organized bargaining, safer workplaces, and extended hours—left a lasting imprint on American labor markets. Its interpretation of how workers should engage with employers—via collective bargaining and mutual restraint—shaped how subsequent unions and policymakers approached labor conflicts. The AFL’s story also serves as a case study in how labor movements balance organizational discipline, inclusion, and strategic risk in pursuit of durable economic gains.