Western Federation of Miners (WFM)

The Western Federation of Miners (WFM), founded in 1893, was a labor union representing miners and industrial workers primarily in the western United States. It aimed to improve working conditions, wages, and safety for its members through collective bargaining and strikes. The WFM was known for its activism and played a significant role in labor movements, advocating for workers’ rights during a time of often hazardous and exploitative mining practices. It also supported broader social reforms and was influential in shaping early labor laws and union organizing in the American West.