Social Welfare History Project Labor Page 6

AFL-CIO

The AFL–CIO is a federation of international labor unions. Since its inception as the American Federation of Labor, the AFL–CIO has supported an image of the federation as the “House of Labor”—an all-inclusive, national federation of “all” labor unions.

Knights of Labor

Article by Michael Barga. The Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor were the most prominent labor organization of the 1880’s. Characterized by its oath-bound secrecy, its emphasis on autonomy of local Knights and non-violence, and its broad sense of solidarity, it is considered by many to be a failed experiment in the labor movement which did not capitalize on the action-mindedness of the Great Upheaval moment.

Jones, Mary Harris ‘Mother’

Mary Harris ‘Mother’ Jones (1837-1930): Labor Activist and Organizer, Speaker, Teacher

Higgins, Monsignor George

Written by Michael Barga. Monsignor George Higgins “The Labor Priest” (1916-2002): Worker’s Rights Advocate, Journalist

National Women’s Trade Union League

The National Women’s Trade Union League of America (NWTUL) was established in Boston, MA in 1903, at the convention of the American Federation of Labor. It was organized as a coalition of working-class women, professional reformers, and women from wealthy and prominent families. Its purpose was to “assist in the organization of women wage workers into trade unions and thereby to help them secure conditions necessary for healthful and efficient work and to obtain a just reward for such work.”

Commons, John R.

John R. Commons (1862-1945) – Economist, Progressive, Labor Advocate, Professor and Author

Andrews, John Bertram

John Bertram Andrews (1880–1943): Social Reformer, Labor Expert, Economist and Author John Bertram Andrews was an American economist who studied and advocated for progressive labor reform. Born in South Wayne, Wisconsin on August 2, 1880, Andrews studied history and economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1904, and at Dartmouth College where…

Anderson, Mary

Mary Anderson (1872-1964): Advocate for Working Women, Labor Organizer and First Director of the Women’s Bureau in the U.S. Department of Labor.