Gompers

Samuel Gompers (January 27, 1850 – December 7, 1924) was a British-born American labor union leader and a central figure in the development of organized labor in the United States. He founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and served as its president from 1886 until his death in 1924. Gompers shaped the modern American labor movement by promoting a pragmatic, craft-based approach to unionism.

Born in London to a Jewish family, Gompers immigrated to the United States as a child and became a cigar maker in New York City. He joined and soon led the Cigar Makers' International Union, and in 1886 helped form the AFL as a federation of skilled-trade unions. The AFL under his leadership prioritized economic goals achieved through collective bargaining and voluntary labor action rather than broad political or social revolution.

Gompers championed "pure and simple unionism," emphasizing raises, shorter hours, improved working conditions, and job security. He supported the eight-hour workday and argued for negotiation with employers within the framework of capitalism. While favoring political engagement and lobbying to advance workers' interests, he opposed socialist and revolutionary tendencies within the labor movement, seeking stability and unity among skilled workers.

Legacy and influence: Gompers’ leadership consolidated the AFL’s role as the dominant umbrella for American labor and helped establish a long-running model of organized labor based on craft unionism and collective bargaining. His approach influenced the structure of later labor organizations and the broader trajectory of the American labor movement, including the eventual formation of the AFL-CIO.