USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The AFL focused on winning economic benefits for its members through collective bargaining. As a federation, it represented several national craft unions that each retained autonomous operations. The Knights, by contrast, represented both craft and unskilled workers in a single national union.

Detailed explanation-2: -The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people. We are the democratic, voluntary federation of 59 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working people.

Detailed explanation-3: -The A.F. of L. made efforts in its early years to assist its affiliates in organizing: it advanced funds or provided organizers or, in some cases, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Teamsters and the American Federation of Musicians, helped form the union.

Detailed explanation-4: -The AFL initially allowed only skilled workers to join the organization. Unskilled laborers initially did not have representation under the AFL. The group also originally prohibited women, African Americans, and other racial minorities from joining the organization.

Detailed explanation-5: -Samuel Gompers, 1850-1924 The Illinois Labor History Society put together this brief biography of Samuel Gompers, founder and president for 38 years of the American Federation of Labor.