American Federation of Labor (AFL)

Definition

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was a national federation of labor unions in the United States, founded in 1886. It focused on organizing skilled workers and promoting collective bargaining to secure better wages, working conditions, and hours for its members, emphasizing pragmatic goals and strategies over broader social reforms.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The AFL was established by Samuel Gompers and became one of the most powerful labor organizations in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. The AFL primarily organized skilled workers and focused on practical economic goals, contrasting with other movements that sought more radical social changes.
3. One of the key achievements of the AFL was advocating for an eight-hour workday, which became a standard demand among labor movements across the country.
4. The AFL played a significant role in establishing collective bargaining as a central practice in labor relations, setting a precedent for future labor negotiations.
5. By the 1920s, the AFL had grown to represent millions of workers and had a significant influence on American politics and policies related to labor rights.

Review Questions

• How did the American Federation of Labor (AFL) approach collective bargaining differently compared to other labor movements of its time?
  • The AFL approached collective bargaining with a focus on pragmatic economic goals rather than broader social reforms. While other labor movements often aimed for comprehensive changes to the capitalist system, the AFL concentrated on negotiating specific improvements such as better wages, working conditions, and hours for its skilled worker members. This practical approach allowed the AFL to successfully secure many incremental gains for its members through structured negotiations with employers.
• Discuss the significance of skilled versus unskilled workers in the AFL's organizational strategy.
  • The AFL specifically targeted skilled workers in its organizational strategy, believing that their expertise made them more valuable to employers and thus better positioned to negotiate for favorable terms. This focus on craft unions allowed the AFL to build a strong base of membership among tradespeople who were willing to mobilize for collective action. In contrast, many unskilled workers were often left out of the AFL's initial strategies, leading to divisions within the labor movement regarding representation and bargaining power.
• Evaluate how the success of the AFL in promoting collective bargaining influenced future labor movements and legislation in the United States.
  • The success of the AFL in promoting collective bargaining set a critical precedent for future labor movements and shaped labor relations in America. By legitimizing collective negotiations between employers and employees, the AFL helped pave the way for legislation that recognized workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively. This influence is evident in later laws like the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which reinforced these rights, ensuring that subsequent generations of workers would benefit from stronger protections and representation through unions.

Related terms

Collective Bargaining: The process in which workers, through their unions, negotiate contracts with their employers regarding wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Craft Union: A type of labor union that represents workers who share a specific skill or trade, often focused on skilled labor rather than unskilled positions.

Labor Day:

A federal holiday in the United States that celebrates the achievements of workers and the labor movement, often associated with the efforts of organizations like the AFL.