Founding Convention of the AFL
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
On Nov. 15, 1881, in nearby Turner Hall, a convention was held to form the organization which became the American Federation of Labor. Soon it was the nation's largest labor federation. It became part of the merged AFL-CIO in 1955.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
In the industrial boomtown of Pittsburgh, delegates gathered at Turner Hall on November 15, 1881, to build a federation of trade unions that would soon be known as the American Federation of Labor. Under leaders who insisted on organizing skilled workers by craft, the AFL grew into the nation's largest labor federation and a durable force in American working life. In 1955 it merged with its industrial-union rival to form the AFL-CIO that endures today.
Why it matters
The AFL's founding launched the most influential organized-labor movement in American history, giving industrial-age workers a lasting voice in the nation's economy.
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Related events
- · Founding Convention of the American Federation of Labor
Themes & tags
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