69-592: The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ( IAM ) is an AFL–CIO / CLC trade union representing over 600,000 workers as of 2024 in more than 200 industries with most of its membership in the United States and Canada. On May 5, 1888, Thomas W. Talbot , a railroad machinist in Atlanta , Georgia , founded the Order of United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers. Talbot and 18 others had been members in
138-623: A "personalized" letter from President Obama emphasizing the importance of voting. In addition, 100,000 volunteers went door-to-door to promote endorsed candidates to 13 million union voters in 32 states. The AFL-CIO is governed by its members, who meet in a quadrennial convention. Each member union elects delegates, based on proportional representation. The AFL-CIO's state federations, central and local labor councils, constitutional departments, and constituent groups are also entitled to delegates. The delegates elect officers and vice presidents, debate and approve policy, and set dues. From 1951 to 1996,
207-550: A department of the AFL-CIO. Established in 1958, it was previously known as the Human Resources Development Institute (HRDI). John Sweeney renamed the department and spun it off as an independent organization in 1998 to act as a lobbying group to promote economic development, develop new economic policies, and lobby Congress on economic policy. The American Center for International Labor Solidarity started out as
276-531: A high of 927,000 in 1973. Also, in 1982 boycott was initiated by the IAM against Brown & Sharpe , a machine, precision, measuring and cutting tool manufacturer, headquartered in Rhode Island . The boycott was called after the firm refused to bargain in good faith (withdrawing previously negotiated clauses in the contract), and forced the union into a strike, during which police sprayed pepper gas on some 800 picketers at
345-636: A meeting of the American Federation of Labor in 1891 at which president Samuel Gompers was asked to invite the local street railway associations to form an international union. Gompers sent a letter to the local street railway unions in April 1892, and based on the positive response arranged for a convention of street railway workers. The convention began on September 12, 1892, in Indianapolis, Indiana, attended by fifty delegates from twenty-two locals. Many of
414-472: A modern way. In 1964, IAM changed its name to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. IAMAW began to strike against five major airlines, including Eastern, National, Northwest, Trans World, and United Airlines . 35,400 IAMAW members in 231 cities grounded the airlines for 43 days finally winning 5 percent raises in three successive years. IAM membership nearly doubled in
483-638: A new issue—the War in Vietnam—was bitterly splitting the New Deal coalition into hawks (led by Johnson and Vice President Hubert Humphrey ) and doves (led by Senators Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy ). The AFL-CIO continued to experience political defeats in the 70's, particular when it came to the Democratic nomination of George McGovern in 1972. The federation leaders were opposed to McGovern's stance on issues such as
552-480: A number of those unions have since re-affiliated, and many locals of Change to Win are either part of or work with their local central labor councils. The largest unions currently in the AFL-CIO are the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) with approximately 1.7 million members, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), with approximately 1.4 million members, and United Food and Commercial Workers with 1.2 million members. The AFL-CIO
621-599: A restructuring of unions and locals, eliminating some smaller locals and focusing more along the lines of industrial unionism . In 2005, the NUP dissolved and the Change to Win Federation (CtW) formed, threatening to secede from the AFL-CIO if its demands for major reorganization were not met. As the AFL-CIO prepared for its 50th anniversary convention in late July, three of the federations' four largest unions announced their withdrawal from
690-693: A system known as precision railroading . In 2013, the AFL-CIO named the University of Maryland Libraries as their official repository , succeeding the closed National Labor College . The archival and library holdings were transferred in 2013, dating from the establishment of the AFL (1881), and offer almost complete records from the founding of the AFL-CIO (1955). Among the estimated 40 million documents are AFL-CIO Department records, trade department records, international union records, union programs, union organizations with allied or affiliate relationships with
759-437: Is a national trade union center that is the largest federation of unions in the United States. It is made up of 60 national and international unions, together representing more than 12 million active and retired workers. The AFL-CIO engages in substantial political spending and activism, typically in support of progressive and pro-labor policies. The AFL-CIO was formed in 1955 when the American Federation of Labor and
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#1732873068680828-413: Is a federation of international labor unions. As a voluntary federation, the AFL-CIO has little authority over the affairs of its member unions except in extremely limited cases (such as the ability to expel a member union for corruption and enforce resolution of disagreements over jurisdiction or organizing). As of May 2023, the AFL-CIO had 60 member unions representing 12.5 million members. The AFL-CIO
897-675: Is a labor organization in the United States and Canada that represents employees in the public transit industry. Established in 1892 as the Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees of America , the union was centered primarily in the Eastern United States; today, ATU has over 200,000 members throughout the United States and Canada. The union was founded in 1892 as the Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees of America. The union has its origins in
966-656: The Cold War , it vigorously opposed Communist unions in Latin America and Europe. In opposing Communism, it helped split the CGT in France and helped create the anti-Communist Force Ouvrière . According to the cybersecurity firm Area 1, hackers working for the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force compromised the networks of the AFL-CIO in order to gain information on negotiations for
1035-511: The Congress of Industrial Organizations merged after a long estrangement. Union membership in the US peaked in 1979, when the AFL-CIO's affiliated unions had nearly twenty million members. From 1955 until 2005, the AFL-CIO's member unions represented nearly all unionized workers in the United States. Several large unions split away from AFL-CIO and formed the rival Change to Win Federation in 2005, although
1104-617: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen and Helpers . It was agreed that the Amalgamated Association would have jurisdiction over buses operated by street railway companies, while the Teamsters would have jurisdiction over independent bus lines and over road transportation of goods. In 2008, the ATU endorsed Hillary Clinton in her unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination; after she conceded defeat,
1173-588: The Knights of Labor . Talbot believed that a union needed to be formed for railroad machinists that would resist wage cuts. He wanted to provide insurance against unemployment, illness, and accidents but also wanted railroad machinists to be recognized for their craft skill. Unlike the Knights of Labor, who accepted everyone, Talbot's union accepted only white US citizens, preferably native-born. The union excluded blacks, women, and non-citizens, and had secret passwords. Despite
1242-653: The National Labor College and Union Privilege. The AFL-CIO is affiliated to the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation , formed November 1, 2006. The new body incorporated the member organizations of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions , of which the AFL-CIO had long been part. The AFL-CIO had had a very active foreign policy in building and strengthening free trade unions. During
1311-550: The Trans-Pacific Partnership . The AFL-CIO has a long relationship with civil rights struggles. One of the major points of contention between the AFL and the CIO, particularly in the era immediately after the CIO split off, was the CIO's willingness to include black workers (excluded by the AFL in its focus on craft unionism). Later, black workers would also criticize the CIO for abandoning their interests, particularly after
1380-693: The Vietnam War , which the AFL-CIO strongly supported. The AFL-CIO endorsed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 . In the 21st century, the AFL-CIO has been criticized by campaigners against police violence for its affiliation with the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA). On May 31, 2020, the AFL-CIO offices in Washington, DC , were set on fire during the George Floyd protests taking place in
1449-505: The automotive industry and with the United Aerospace Workers for aircraft working in that union. In 1949, IAM signed no-raiding agreements with both unions. Those agreements become the model for other unions when AFL and the CIO merged in 1955. The 1950s was a period of rapid growth for IAM. The production of jet engines during the war led IAM to expand to the aircraft industry. By 1958, IAM had more than 900,000 members. This
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#17328730686801518-445: The 1950s, in large part due to the burgeoning airline industry, from 501,000 members in 1949 to 903,000 members in 1958. As a result of the influx of members from the airlines and the new American space program, the delegates voted to change the name to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers at the 1964 convention. In 1982, due to individual and corporate bankruptcies IAM membership dropped to 820,211 members from
1587-666: The AFL rarely commented on. World War I and wartime production drove membership in the Machinists to 300,000 in 1918, making it the country's largest union. Just five years later, membership dropped to 80,000. Amid the Great Depression, membership declined further, to 50,000—some 23,000 of whom were unemployed. In 1935, the machinists started to organize with the airline industry. In 1936, the Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington , signed
1656-495: The AFL, AFL President Samuel Gompers urged IAM to drop its whites-only rule. But IAM maintained racial segregation, arguing that it needed to retain Southern members. Talbot wanted the union to be a fraternity of white men born in the United States who possessed good moral character. His sentiments were echoed by other AFL member unions, whose locals routinely discriminated against black workers through racial exclusion policies, which
1725-700: The AFL-CIO in October 2010. In August 2013, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) disaffiliated from the AFL-CIO. The ILWU said that members of other AFL-CIO unions were crossing its picket lines, and the AFL-CIO had done nothing to stop it. The ILWU also cited the AFL-CIO's willingness to compromise on key policies such as labor law reform, immigration reform, and health care reform. The longshoremen's union said it would become an independent union. In 2024, AFL-CIO voiced its opposition to an investor-led plan at Norfolk Southern Railway to replace
1794-536: The AFL-CIO, and personal papers of union leaders. Extensive photo documentation of labor union activities from the 1940s to the present are in the photographic negative and digital collections. Additionally, collections of graphic images, over 10,000 audio tapes, several hundred films and videotapes, and over 2,000 artifacts are available for public research and study. References Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America The Amalgamated Transit Union ( ATU )
1863-459: The AFL-CIO. After a bitter internal leadership dispute that involved allegations of embezzlement and accusations that SEIU was attempting to raid the union, a substantial number of UNITE HERE members formed their own union ( Workers United ) while the remainder of UNITE HERE reaffiliated with the AFL-CIO on September 17, 2009. The Laborers' International Union of North America said on August 13, 2010, that it would also leave Change to Win and rejoin
1932-701: The ATU endorsed Barack Obama in his bid to become president. The ATU was named the "Most Valuable National Union" in The Nation magazine's Progressive Honor Roll of 2012 for its support of the Occupy movement , the National Day of Action for Public Transportation, and other social justice issues. It lasted for 1 day until June 8, where the President of Amalgamated Transit Union 113, Marvin Alfred, confirmed Friday morning that
2001-527: The Executive Council held its winter meeting in the resort town of Bal Harbour, Florida . The meeting at the Bal Harbour Sheraton has been the object of frequent criticism, including over a labor dispute at the hotel itself. Citing image concerns, the council changed the meeting site to Los Angeles . However, the meeting was moved back to Bal Harbour several years later. The 2012 meeting
2070-718: The Free Trade Union Committee (FTUC), which internationally promoted free labor-unions. Other organizations that are allied with the AFL-CIO include: Programs are organizations established and controlled by the AFL-CIO to serve certain organizational goals. Programs of the AFL-CIO include the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust, the AFL-CIO Employees Federal Credit Union , the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust,
2139-504: The IUD remained rather militant on a number of issues. There are six AFL-CIO constitutionally mandated departments: Constituency groups are nonprofit organizations chartered and funded by the AFL-CIO as voter registration and mobilization bodies. These groups conduct research, host training and educational conferences, issue research reports and publications, lobby for legislation and build coalitions with local groups. Each constituency group has
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2208-539: The Labor-Management Relations Act, which placed restrictions on union activities. This act also contained provisions that made closed shops illegal and outlawed boycotts. The second section of the Taft Hartley Act was controversial because it allowed states to pass right-to-work laws , which enabled them to regulate the number of union shops. Furthermore, the machinists worked with AFL unions to repeal
2277-523: The Vietnam war. Although they attempted to stop the nomination at the Democratic National Convention of 1972, their attempts proved to be futile as they realized the chokehold they had on politics was giving way to a more diverse set of delegates. This marked a turning point in the political power they held as a federation in the U.S. In 2003, the AFL-CIO began an intense internal debate over
2346-601: The act. The limitations imposed on union political activity by this act led to the creation of the Machinists' Non-Partisan Political League. In 1948, Lodge 751 went on strike against the Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington. The machinists preserved longstanding seniority rules that the company wanted to abolish and achieved a 10 percent per hour raise. IAM also competed for members with the United Auto Workers of America in
2415-457: The city. In response, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka condemned both the murder of George Floyd and the destruction of the offices, but did not address demands to end the organization's affiliation with the IUPA. After the smashing electoral victory of President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 , the heavily Democratic Congress passed a raft of liberal legislation. Labor union leaders claimed credit for
2484-430: The company's North Kingston plant in early 1982. Three weeks later, a machinist narrowly escaped serious injury when a shot fired into the picket line hit his belt buckle. The National Labor Relations Board later charged Brown & Sharpe with regressive bargaining, and of entering into negotiations with the express purpose of not reaching an agreement with the union. It was not until 1998, nearly seventeen years after
2553-418: The company's top management and several board members. Organized labor is divided on the issue, which is the major sticking point of a proxy battle between NS management and investors ahead of a May 9, 2024 shareholder meeting. AFL-CIO came out and voiced its support for Norfolk's CEO Alan Shaw , citing concerns about safety, service, and job losses. The union criticized the proposal to replace Shaw and implement
2622-454: The country. In recent years the AFL-CIO has concentrated its political efforts on lobbying in Washington and the state capitals, and on "GOTV" (get-out-the-vote) campaigns in major elections. For example, in the 2010 midterm elections, it sent 28.6 million pieces of mail. Members received a "slate card" with a list of union endorsements matched to the member's congressional district, along with
2691-443: The delegates of the 1965 Illinois AFL-CIO Convention during his keynote address, "if I did not point out that the labor movement of thirty years ago did more in that period for civil rights than labor is doing today...Our combined strength is potentially enormous, but we have not used a fraction of it for our own good or the needs of society as a whole." King and the AFL-CIO diverged further in 1967, when King announced his opposition to
2760-547: The department to survive without a constitutional mandate. For many years, the IUD was a de facto organizing department in the AFL-CIO. For example, it provided money to the near-destitute American Federation of Teachers (AFT) as it attempted to organize the United Federation of Teachers in 1961. The organizing money enabled the AFT to win the election and establish its first large collective bargaining affiliate. For many years,
2829-496: The dues the international collects. But not all international unions pay their required state federation and CLC dues. One of the most well-known departments was the Industrial Union Department (IUD). It had been constitutionally mandated by the new AFL-CIO constitution created by the merger of the AFL and CIO in 1955, as CIO unions felt that the AFL's commitment to industrial unionism was not strong enough to permit
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2898-728: The federation: the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters ("The Teamsters"), and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). UNITE HERE disaffiliated in mid-September 2005, the United Farm Workers left in January 2006, and the Laborers' International Union of North America disaffiliated on June 1, 2006. Two unions later left CtW and rejoined
2967-595: The future of the labor movement in the United States with the creation of the New Unity Partnership (NUP), a loose coalition of some of the AFL-CIO's largest unions. This debate intensified in 2004, after the defeat of labor-backed candidate John Kerry in the November 2004 US presidential election . The NUP's program for reform of the federation included reduction of the central bureaucracy, more money spent on organizing new members rather than on electoral politics, and
3036-409: The industry's first labor agreement. By 1938, the IAM negotiated the first union agreement in air transportation with Eastern Air Lines . In 1944, IAM union members established an education department to publish a supplemental journal. Initially published weekly by The Machinist, the IAM newspaper, the journal's production was eventually reduced to twice a year, then voted out of existence in 1956. It
3105-468: The initials of the organization. According to French, the flywheel represented the ongoing power of the union once it started, and the caliper signified an extended invitation to all persons of civilized countries. The square signified that IAM was square and honest. In 1890 and 1891, NAM reached Canada, making Canadians the first international members. Locals were also formed in Mexico . To reflect this, in 1891
3174-632: The merger with the AFL. In 1961, Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech titled "If the Negro Wins, Labor Wins" to the organization's convention in Bal Harbour, Florida . King hoped for a coalition between civil rights and labor that would improve the situation for the entire working class by ending racial discrimination. However, King also criticized the AFL-CIO for its tolerance of unions that excluded black workers. "I would be lacking in honesty," he told
3243-548: The name was changed from National Association of Machinists to International Association of Machinists (IAM), at a conference in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . In 1892, IAM signed a contract with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , establishing the first organized shop at a railroad in the United States. Because IAM had a color bar, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) did not accept IAM right away. After IAM finally did join
3312-556: The numbers affiliated with the AFL, according to the claims of the delegates, the new international remained unaffiliated despite pleas by Gompers. The objectives included education, settlement of disputes with management, and securing good pay and working conditions. The international was given considerable authority over the locals. The second convention was held in Cleveland in October 1893, with just fifteen divisions represented by about twenty delegates. At this meeting William D. Mahon
3381-824: The right to sit in on AFL-CIO executive council meetings, and to exercise representational and voting rights at AFL-CIO conventions. The AFL-CIO's seven constituency groups include the A. Philip Randolph Institute , the AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance , the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists , the Coalition of Labor Union Women , the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and Pride at Work . The Working for America Institute started out as
3450-547: The secrecy, the order spread beyond Georgia, thanks in part to "boomers", men who traveled the railway lines for work. These boomers established local lodges in new areas. Within one year there were 40 lodges, and by 1891, there were 189. On May 6, 1889, the Machinists held their first major convention in Atlanta. Talbot was elected the Grand Master Machinist (later known as the international president), and William L. Dawley
3519-510: The smaller unions were affiliated with the AFL, while four larger locals were affiliated with the Knights of Labor and two were independent. The first president was William J. Law from the AFL-affiliated local in Detroit. Detroit was chosen as the headquarters, using the same facilities as the Detroit local. Because the number of members affiliated with the Knights of Labor was greater than
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#17328730686803588-408: The strike began, that the Rhode Island Supreme Court ended the legal battle, ultimately siding with Brown & Sharpe in its plea that it had not illegally forced the strike. By this point, both Brown & Sharpe and its erstwhile work force were retreating from manufacturing in Rhode Island. From 1981 to 1990 the union owned and operated an Indy Car racing team, Machinists Union Racing . In 1991,
3657-519: The total membership. IAM contracts also cover some non-members, known as agency fee payers, which since 2005 have grown to number comparatively just over 1 percent of the size of the union's membership. As of 2013, this accounts for about 145,000 "retirees" (25 percent), 52,000 "life" members (9 percent), 26,000 "exempt" members (5 percent), and 14,000 "unemployed" members (2 percent), plus about 7,000 non-members paying agency fees, compared to about 333,000 dues paying" members (58 percent). The association
3726-407: The union absorbed the Pattern Makers' League of North America . The Transportation Communications International Union (TCU) merged with the IAM, after a TCU member vote in July 2005. On September 7, 2008, the union began a 57-day strike against Boeing over issues with outsourcing, job security , pay and benefits. The union continues to expand into different companies today. In December 2013
3795-415: The union members. On September 12, 2024, IAM District 751 voted to strike against Boeing over a proposed contract's pay and benefits with 94.6% of votes in and 96% in favor of a strike. The union leadership had reached a tentative agreement with Boeing prior to the vote and endorsed the contract. According to IAM's Department of Labor records, since 2005, when membership classifications were first reported,
3864-499: The union sued the Federal Election Commission for issues surrounding political action committee contributions. This case eventually went to the Supreme Court. In 2022, a Boeing worker sued the union over unlawful dues deductions. The settlement required IAM to return illegally seized dues. The association sued furniture maker IKEA over unsafe workplace issues in 2010. AFL%E2%80%93CIO The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations ( AFL-CIO )
3933-409: The union was always willing to arbitrate in disputes, there were many strikes against the streetcar companies. Often these turned violent, as in St. Louis in 1900 or Denver in 1920 . The public and small businesses sympathized with the strikers, and passengers and other unions often became involved in the street actions. When buses began to replace streetcars, the association began to be challenged by
4002-525: The union's attempt to represent workers at an Amazon.com fulfillment center in Middletown, Delaware , failed. In 2020, the union began a strike at Bath Iron Works , a major shipyard in Bath, Maine , over disagreements regarding a new labor contract with the company. The strike, occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic , was described by the IAM President as "the largest strike in the United States of America right now.” The strike ended after two months, with new labor contract agreements viewed as favorable to
4071-417: The union's membership has been generally in a slow decline, including "dues paying", "retired", and "exempt" members. Despite this, "life" members were reported to have had a 22 percent increase during this period, and "unemployed" members momentarily increased to a peak in 2009, before also declining. Members classified as "on strike" have varied considerably throughout, although remaining less than 1 percent of
4140-418: The widest range of liberal laws since the New Deal era, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Voting Rights Act of 1965; the War on Poverty; aid to cities and education; increased Social Security benefits; and Medicare for the elderly. The 1966 elections were an unexpected disaster, with defeats for many of the more liberal Democrats. According to Alan Draper, the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Action (COPE)
4209-416: Was a major component of the New Deal Coalition that dominated politics into the mid-1960s. Although it has lost membership, finances, and political clout since 1970, it remains a major player on the liberal side of national politics , with a great deal of activity in lobbying, grassroots organizing, coordinating with other liberal organizations, fund-raising, and recruiting and supporting candidates around
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#17328730686804278-443: Was because IAM took steps to begin to move away from its racist past. In 1955, under the leadership of President Al Hayes IAM became more of an industrial union; it began to shift from railroad work to metal fabrication. IAM had more union members as well as workers in the aircraft industry. Thus, Aerospace workers were attracted to join IAM. The trade union produced a first-of-its-kind radio show, Boomer Jones , to tell their history in
4347-411: Was elected as Grand Secretary (now known as General Secretary-Treasurer). The Organization's name was changed to the National Association of Machinists (NAM) and a constitution was drawn up. The NAM began publishing the 16-page Machinists Monthly Journal . Also in 1889, Frank French designed an emblem for the union. The emblem consisted of a flywheel, a friction joint caliper, and a machinist's square with
4416-491: Was held in Orlando, Florida . The AFL-CIO constitution permits international unions to pay state federation and central labor council (CLC) dues directly, rather than have each local or state federation pay them. This relieves each union's state and local affiliates of the administrative duty of assessing, collecting and paying the dues. International unions assess the AFL-CIO dues themselves, and collect them on top of their own dues-generating mechanisms or simply pay them out of
4485-434: Was named president, and he still held this position in 1937. By then the union had been renamed the Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America. The union struggled in the early years as the transit companies followed the practice of firing union activists. In the 1897 meeting in Dayton, Ohio, there were twenty delegates. The treasury of the union now had $ 4,008. An early achievement
4554-421: Was replaced with a quarterly magazine entitled The IAMW Journal . In 1945, IAM disaffiliated with the AFL, which had failed to settle a jurisdictional dispute between IAM and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America as well as the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America . In 1947 Congress passed the Taft Hartley Act , officially known as
4623-520: Was sued in 2010 after an election of local union officers went badly. A lawsuit was brought by the officers against the union and claimed libel, defamation, and invasion of privacy. While the court ruled for the defendant, the case exposed thousands of grievances filed against the union, dubious handling of the election, and other misconduct; including using union computer equipment for viewing pornography, missing promotional items purchased with union funds, and significant mishandling of union funds. In 1980,
4692-426: Was the main electioneering unit of the labor movement. It ignored the white backlash against civil rights. The COPE assumed falsely that union members were interested in issues of greatest salience to union leadership, but polls showed this was not true. The members were much more conservative. The younger ones were deeply concerned about taxes and crime, and the older ones had more conservative social views. Furthermore,
4761-404: Was to have laws passed in a dozen states by 1899 that mandated enclosed vestibules for the motormen. Wages were close to $ 2 a day where the union was established, and in Detroit and Worcester the nine-hour day had been achieved, although in most cities ten- or eleven-hour days were common. At the start of the 20th century the Amalgamated Association launched a militant organizing program. Although
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