Final answer:
The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was a federation of unions that represented workers in the manufacturing industry, focusing on improving conditions and benefits for unskilled and semiskilled laborers. It originated in 1935 and later merged with the AFL in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was primarily a federation of unions that represented unskilled and semiskilled laborers, most notably in the industrial sector. This organization was founded in 1935 when the United Mine Workers leader John L. Lewis led these unions out of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1938. The CIO was known for representing workers involved in the manufacturing industry, particularly for advocating for the rights and interests of laborers seeking improved wages, working conditions, and benefits.
Labor organizations and unions like the CIO became instrumental in negotiating for their members to achieve better pay, health care, insurance coverage, and overall working conditions. Their influence extended beyond simply negotiating with employers, as they also worked to strengthen their bargaining power and influence legislation to support workers' interests. In 1955, the AFL and CIO merged to form the AFL-CIO, the largest labor union in the nation at that time.