Understand Samuel Gompers role with the AFL.
Samuel Gompers was a prominent labor leader and founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). He played a significant role in shaping the labor movement in the United States and advocating for better working conditions and rights for workers.
Gompers served as the president of the AFL from its founding in 1886 until his death in 1924. During his tenure, he focused on the idea of "pure and simple unionism," which meant that the AFL would only concern itself with the immediate and practical demands of its members, such as better wages, shorter working hours, and improved working conditions.
Gompers believed in working within the existing capitalist system, rather than aiming for a complete overthrow of it. He emphasized the importance of collective bargaining and negotiations with employers to achieve workers' goals. Under his leadership, the AFL focused on organizing skilled workers into craft unions, where workers of the same trade would join together to protect their interests.
Gompers also emphasized the importance of political action, particularly in lobbying for legislative reforms that would benefit workers. He advocated for the creation of labor-friendly laws, such as the eight-hour workday and worker safety regulations.
Gompers' pragmatism and focus on practical gains made the AFL one of the most influential labor organizations of its time. Under his leadership, the AFL grew in membership and became an important voice for workers' rights. His approach to unionism and emphasis on organizing skilled workers laid the foundation for the modern labor movement in the United States.