Supporters of the American Federation of Labor felt that:
A. unskilled workers should be added to its membership. B. organized workers helped the cause of all workers. C. workers for companies like Ford did not need to be organized. D. African American workers should be added to its membership.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: B. organized workers helped the cause of all workers.
The American Federation of Labor (AFL), founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers, aimed to represent the interests of skilled laborers across the United States. Supporters of the AFL believed in the power of collective bargaining and unionization as a way to improve workers’ conditions, wages, and benefits. They felt that when organized labor united in solidarity, it benefited all workers by setting industry standards that even non-unionized labor might enjoy. Through this collective strength, the AFL sought to establish better working conditions, secure shorter work hours, and ensure fair pay, which they saw as essential to dignified labor.
While some of the other options could apply to broader labor movements, they do not accurately reflect the AFL’s position during its early years. For example, the AFL did not initially support the inclusion of unskilled workers (Option A) or African American workers (Option D), as it focused primarily on skilled craftsmen and was often criticized for its exclusionary policies. This selective approach differentiated it from other labor organizations, such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which later emerged to represent a more diverse workforce, including unskilled and industrial laborers.
Moreover, supporters of the AFL believed in fostering change through gradual, direct negotiations with employers rather than through radical or political means. They felt that creating secure, organized workplaces could help set precedents for labor rights that would indirectly benefit all workers, regardless of membership. This approach led to significant improvements in labor standards in industries with high union representation, further influencing non-unionized sectors by raising the bar for acceptable work conditions across the country. Thus, AFL supporters championed the belief that organized labor was instrumental in advancing the cause for all workers by establishing more equitable labor practices.