1880s

• Knights of Labour (KOL)

  • Believed in unity and enlisted anyone who could be classified as a producer (not just labourers)
  • Strikes crucial in growth
  • 1881 - 20,000 members
  • 1886 - 700,000 members
• American Federation of Labour (AFL)

  • Began in 1881 under leadership of Gompers
  • Originally encouraged formation of trade unions
  • Organised 37,000 strikes between 1881 and 1905
  • Excluded unskilled workers, AAs, women
  • Saw women as a threat to jobs for men