AFL

=  __//American Federation of Labor //__          =   The AFL is an organization that regulates rights of industry workers and ensures monetary compensation for workers on strike. Founded by Samuel Gompers in 1886, this union is dedicated to providing these services regardless of age, race, gender, or skill level. It is the first and only permanent, successful union labor organization to exist yet.

women workers on strike

Workers in 1893

When workers believe their rights are being violated, it is common for them to go on strike or boycott. Workers who are members of the AFL don't have to worry about going hungry just because they are protesting against their company. The American Federation of Labor has a strike fund in place, and every member is required to pay monthly dues in order to be prepared if a situation such as this arises. The AFL and its members agree that workers have a right to demand adequate benefits from their employers. Discrimination in American industry has gone on far too long, and the AFL aims to put a stop to this by allowing //every person// an opportunity to feel happy and secure about their job.



 Samuel Gompers Samuel Gompers believed in "pure and simple unionism". This concept simply declared that workers should not be discriminated against by their employer in any way. Samuel Gompers, who was the president of a highly-reputable and successful cigar company, was so envied by businessmen that he was recruited to help with the problems among American Industry in the late 19th century. He founded the American Federation of Labor, and was it's president until his death in 1924. Gompers was the key to success for the AFL, and was an important figure in the history of American Labor.

__Work Cited__
“American Federation of Labor.” __Answers__. AFLCIO. 25 Nov. 2008 < [|http://www.answers.com/]‌topic/‌american-federation-of-labor-1>. __Chicago Daily Tribune__ 18 Feb. 1890. __eLibrary__. ProQuest. Huntingtown High School Lib., Huntingtown, MD. 24 Nov. 2008 < [|http://hn.bigchalk.com]>. “Doings of the Labor Unions.” __New York Times__ 8 Jan. 1890. __eLibrary__. ProQuest. Huntingtown High School Lib., Huntingtown, MD. 24 Nov. 2008 < [|http://hn.bigchalk.com]>. “Gompers on Labor Outlook.” __Chicago Daily Tribune__ 4 Jan. 1900: 4. __eLibrary__. ProQuest. Huntingtown High School Lib., Huntingtown, MD. 26 Nov. 2008 < [|http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/]>. information about Gompers’ view of the afl “Gompers, Samuel [1850-1924].” __The New Netherland Institute__. 26 Nov. 2008 < [|http://www.nnp.org/]‌nni/‌Publications/‌Dutch-American/‌gompers.html>. information about Samuel Gompers’ life “Proceedings of the Congress of American Trades Assemblies and Unions.Proceedings of the Congress of American Trades Assemblies and Unions.Proceedings of the Congress of American Trades Assemblies and Unions.” __Chicago Daily Tribune__ 22 Nov. 1882: 6. __eLibrary__. ProQuest. Huntingtown High School Lib., Huntingtown, MD. 26 Nov. 2008 < [|http://hn.bigchalk.com]>. source about the union strikes “samuel gompers.” __expo98__. 12 Dec. 2008 < [|http://www.expo98.msu.edu/]‌sounds/‌gompers.html>. “samuel gompers: mission of the trade unions.” __Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub__. 12 Dec. 2008 < [|http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/]‌2006/‌09/‌05/‌samuel-gompers-mission-of-the-trade-unions/>. __The Samuel Gompers Papers__. 26 Nov. 2008 < [|http://www.history.umd.edu/]‌Gompers/‌index.htm>. quote from Samuel Gompers Valentine, Rebecca. “American Federation of Labor.” __Gilded Age and the Progressive Era Almanac__. Vol. 1. N.p.: Thomson Gale, 2007. 174-176. more information about the afl - - -. “Formation of the American Federation of Labor.” __Gilded Age and the Progressive Era__. Vol. 3. N.p.: Thomson Gale, 2007. 53-54. information about the formation of afl and its president, samuel gompers

=created by: Amber Drake, Adrienne Harkey, Matthew Laher=

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