Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions

The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions was the immediate predecessor of the American Federation of Labor. Founded in 1881 at a convention attended by representatives of a number of labor unions and chapters of the Knights of Labor, its original goals were to encourage the formation of trade unions and to obtain legislation, such as prohibition of child labor, a national eight hour day , and exclusion of foreign contract workers. Samuel Gompers of the Cigar Makers Union was chosen as the chairman of its Committee on Organization and as a member of its Legislative Committee.

The Federation made some efforts to obtain favorable legislation, but had little success in organizing or chartering new unions. It came out in support of the proposal, traditionally attributed to Peter J. McGuire of the Carpenters Union, for a national Labor Day holiday on the first Monday in September, and threw itself behind the eight hour movement, which sought to limit the workday by either legislation or union organizing.

In 1886, as the relations between the trade union movement and the Knights of Labor worsened, McGuire and other union leaders called for a convention to be held at Columbus, Ohio on December 8th. The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions merged with the new organization, known as the American Federation of Labor, formed at that convention.

Further Reading

• "History of the Labor Movement in the United States, Volume 1" by Philip Foner ISBN 071780089

• "History of the Labor Movement in the United States, Volume 2" by Philip Foner ISBN 071780092X