Leaders of the Labor Movement

Samuel Gompers was a British-born American labor leader who served as the first president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) from 1886 to 1924. He is widely regarded as the father of the American labor movement.

William D. Haywood was a prominent American labor leader and founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). He was known for his large stature and his fiery speeches, which earned him the nickname "Big Bill".

Rose Schneiderman was a Polish-American labor leader and suffragist. She was the first woman to lead a major American labor union, the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union.

Mary Harris Jones was an Irish-American labor leader and activist. She was known as the "Mother Jones" for her work organizing workers and leading strikes, particularly in the coal and steel industries.

John L. Lewis was the president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) from 1920 to 1960. He led the union through a period of great growth and militancy, including the famous Coal Wars of the 1920s and 1930s.

A. Philip Randolph was an African-American labor leader and civil rights activist. He was the founder and president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first African-American labor union. He was also a prominent advocate for social justice and workers' rights.

George Meany was the president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) from 1955 to 1979. He was a strong advocate for workers' rights and led the AFL-CIO through a period of growth and consolidation.

Samuel Gompers was known as the "Lion of the AFL" for his strong leadership and advocacy for workers' rights. He led the AFL for nearly four decades and is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the American labor movement.

John L. Lewis was the founder of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). He led the CIO from its founding in 1935 until its merger with the AFL in 1955.

Florence Kelley was a prominent advocate for workers' education. She founded the National Consumers League in 1899 and the National Child Labor Committee in 1904. She also worked to establish the first minimum wage laws and child labor laws in the United States.

Linda Chavez-Thompson was the first African-American woman to serve as president of a major American labor union. She was elected president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in 2004.

Eugene V. Debs was known as the "Prince of Wales" for his elegant appearance and his eloquent speeches. He was a prominent socialist leader and labor organizer, and he ran for president of the United States five times.

Homer Martin was the leader of the United Auto Workers (UAW) during the sit-down strikes of the 1930s. He led the union to victory in a number of key strikes, including the Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936-1937.

William Z. Foster was known as the "Red Napoleon" for his leadership of the Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA) and his role in organizing workers in the steel and auto industries.

David Dubinsky was the leader of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) from 1934 to 1966. He led the union through a period of great growth and militancy, and he was a strong advocate for workers' rights.