Economics Principles & Practices

"Labor Unions and the AFL-CIO"

Introduction
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) began in 1886 as an organization of craft unions. Later, it added several industrial unions. The trade and industrial unions did not always agree over the future of the union movement. Consequently, eight of the AFL industrial unions formed the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) in 1935. In 1955, after almost twenty years of disagreement, the AFL and CIO finally settled most of their differences and joined to form the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). In this activity you will learn more about the AFL-CIO and its role in our modern economy.

Destination Title: AFL-CIO

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Directions
Start at the AFL-CIO home page.

• Click on "About the AFL-CIO" for information about this labor organization
• Browse through the various categories and then answer the following questions.

1			What are the goals described in the AFL-CIO's mission statement?
2			What are some of the accomplishments of the AFL-CIO?
3			Select the "All About Unions" link then select "How and Why People Join Unions" on the left side of your computer screen. What reasons are given for why people join unions?
4			Next, select "Local Union Movements" on the left side of your computer screen. Then select your state from the map. What are the labor councils in your state?