Labor Forward
Encyclopedia
The Labor Forward movement was an organizing program of the American Federation of Labor
from roughly 1910 to 1920. The program, which took place in approximately 150 cities across the United States
, was designed to convince workers of the labor movement's commitment to Christian
ideals and labor-management cooperation.
Although initial reports were that the program had generated large crowds and warm responses from employers, large numbers of new trade union
members never appeared and the program was shut down.
In some respects, the program is similar to the "Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar" program co-sponsored by the AFL-CIO
and Interfaith Worker Justice
in the 2000s.
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
from roughly 1910 to 1920. The program, which took place in approximately 150 cities across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was designed to convince workers of the labor movement's commitment to Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
ideals and labor-management cooperation.
Although initial reports were that the program had generated large crowds and warm responses from employers, large numbers of new trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
members never appeared and the program was shut down.
In some respects, the program is similar to the "Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar" program co-sponsored by the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and Interfaith Worker Justice
Interfaith Worker Justice
Interfaith Worker Justice is a nonprofit, nonpartisan religious organization that educates and mobilizes the religious people of all faiths in the United States on issues important to working people....
in the 2000s.