The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), whose members are nicknamed "Wobblies", is an international labor union founded in Chicago in 1905. The nickname's origin is uncertain. Its ideology combines general unionism with industrial unionism, as it is a general union, subdivided between the various industries which employ its members. The philosophy and tactics of the IWW are described as "revolutionary industrial unionism", with ties to socialist, syndicalist, and anarchist labor movements.
Big Bill Haywood and office workers in the IWW General Office, Chicago, summer 1917
The first IWW charter in Canada, Vancouver Industrial Mixed Union no.322, May 5, 1906
A Wobbly membership card, or "red card"
1914 IWW demonstration in New York City
American Federation of Labor
Videos
The American Federation of Labor was a national federation of labor unions in the United States that continues today as the AFL–CIO. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions eager to provide mutual support and disappointed in the Knights of Labor. Samuel Gompers was elected the full-time president at its founding convention and was re-elected every year except one until his death in 1924. He became the major spokesperson for the union movement.
Terence Powderly, Grand Master Workman of the Knights of Labor, whose refusal to negotiate with craft unions led to formation of the AFL
Samuel Gompers in the office of the American Federation of Labor, 1887.
Samuel Gompers with John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of America