History: The AFL-CIO was created from the merger of two major labor organizations. The American Federation of Labor (AFL), a craft-oriented union, had been formed in 1886, while the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) had broken away from the AFL in the late 1930s after internal disputes. The two unions merged in 1955 and George Meany was elected as the first president of the new AFL-CIO. Meany was succeeded in 1979 by Lane Kirkland. Because it is a voluntary federation of labor unions, the AFL-CIO represents nearly all unionized employees in the U.S. and Canada. Member unions are permitted proportional representation by delegates with voting power. The AFL-CIO lobbies on behalf of unionized labor and steps in as a mediator when member unions are in conflict.
Sources: “Guide to the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)” Last updated August 21, 2018. http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/tamwag/pe_021/.
Summary: The AFL-CIO Printed Ephemera Collection was collected and assembled by the Tamiment Library over the course of several decades, and is made up of a variety of different ephemera related to the AFL-CIO, including constitutions, by-laws, convention proceedings, press releases, reports and rosters as well as fliers, brochures, circular letters, newsletters, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and other publications. Ranging from 1949 through 2007, most of the material comes from the AFL-CIO’s national body, various departments, and committees. Also represented are the city, state and central federations of the AFL-CIO.
Of particular significance is approximately 0.3 linear feet consisting of materials from the national Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) as well as major APALA chapters: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Twin Cities, and Almeda County. In addition, materials from the Asian American Free Labor Institute are included.
Total Size: 12.0 linear feet
APA-related Size: 0.3 linear feet
Languages of materials: English
Arrangement: other
Location: Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University
Bibliographic Control: finding aid
Finding Aid Link: http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/tamwag/pe_aflcio.html
Conditions Governing Access: Open for research without restrictions.