American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) were two major labor organizations in the U.S. that aimed to improve conditions for workers. The AFL, founded in 1886, primarily organized skilled workers into craft unions, focusing on better wages and working conditions. The CIO, established in the 1930s, focused on unskilled and industrial workers, advocating for broader worker rights across entire industries. In 1955, they merged to form the AFL-CIO, a unified federation representing millions of workers and advocating for labor interests across diverse sectors.