AFL.
American Federation of Labor.
Led by Samuel Gompers.
organized individualized national union.
Limited its membership to skilled workers.
It gave the union great bargaining power, but left out most ordinary workers.
AFL tried to get better wages, hours and working conditions for laborers.
It grew to a large union.
All workers acting together, workers had much greater chance of success in negotiating with management.
Most employers opposed collective bargaining, they would rather go out of business.