American Labor Organizations

  • New York Jorneymen Tailors Revolt

  • Formation of the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers

  • Commonwealth v. Hunt decision frees unions from prosecution

  • National Labor Union founded

  • Knight of Labor founded

  • National uprising of railroad workers

  • Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions formed

  • First Labor Day Parade

  • Formation of the American Federation of Labor (AFL)

  • Women’s Trade Union League formed

  • Industrial Workers of the World founded

  • Bill creating Department of Labor passes

  • One of every five workers walked out in great strike wave, including national clothing coal and steel strikes; a general strike in Seattle; and a police strike in Boston

  • Great Depression begins

  • Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) formed

  • Largest strike wave in U.S. history

  • AFL and CIO merge

  • President John Kennedy's order gives federal workers the right to bargain

  • Coalition of Black Trade Unionists formed

  • Coalition of Black Trade Unionists formed

  • Coalition of Labor Union Women founded

  • Coalition of Labor Union Women founded

  • The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Employee Free Choice Act