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History
The history of the Chicago Federation of Labor dates back over 100 years.
One of the first unions established in Chicago was Typographical Local 16, which received its charter in 1852, while informal societies of blacksmiths, carpenters, stone cutters, boilermakers and horseshoers (eventually known as the "Order of the Knights of St. Crispin") were in existence as well.
Civil War inflationary pressures led to the formation of the General Trades Assembly in 1864, and it was the first central labor organization with influence. The General Trades Assembly became split by political warfare and further weakened through panic. The assembly withered, but by 1877 the Trades Council was formed by unions representing (among others) upholsterers, cigar makers, printers, bricklayers, shoemakers and stair builders. Many of the leaders belonged to the Knights of Labor.
Soon yet another split occurred, this time between those involved in revolutionary action and the trade unionists; the latter group won and went on to form the Trades and Labor Assembly. This central labor organization kept its name until 1896, at which time it was reorganized as the Chicago Federation of Labor.
The Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) received its charter from the American Federation of Labor on November 9, 1896. Thomas Morgan, a Machinist, is elected to head the CFL.
The period during which the reorganization took place was one of great uncertainty and labor was quite unsettled. However, within two years prosperity returned. Chicago experienced the same rapid expansion in labor that was felt throughout the nation. In fact, union membership in the U.S. rose from 444,500 to 865,400 by 1900.
John Fitzpatrick served as President of the CFL from 1905 until his death in 1946 (with the exception of one year, 1908, when Charles M. Dold was CFL President).
Fitzpatrick was succeeded by William A. Lee, who at the time was President of Bakery Drivers Local 734 and a Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Lee is credited with expanding CFL's role in the community and politics, and he served on many boards and commissions during his years of leadership.
The national AFL and CIO merged in 1955. The CFL and the Cook County Industrial Union Council (an organization that was originally limited to Chicago and was chartered in 1941) united in 1962. Its first President was Samuel Levin, who was then manager of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers and chairman of Amalgamated Trust and Savings Bank.
Albert Towers, an international representative of the Steelworkers, was President of the local CIO central body for fifteen years, until the merger.
The South Chicago Trades and Labor Assembly (chartered in 1895) and the Calumet Joint Labor Council (formed early in the 1900s) were absorbed into the larger, united central organization in 1962 as well. Under the merger agreement, William A. Lee was named President and was re-elected every four years until his death in 1984.
One item of CFL history--ownership and operation of Radio Station WCFL from 1926 until 1979--spans the Fitzpatrick and Lee eras of leadership. It was the first and only labor-owned radio station in the country.
Edward F. Brabec, Business Manager of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130, was First Vice President of the CFL-IUC the time of President Lee became ill in the Spring of 1984. Brabec was appointed Acting President during Lee's illness, and Robert Healey, president of the Chicago Teachers Union and a member of the CFL Executive Board, was asked by President Lee to assist Secretary-Treasurer Thomas E. Faul.
Following President Lee's death and the resignation of Secretary-Treasurer Faul, a special election was held in July of 1984. Edward Brabec was elected President and Robert Healey was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the CFL without opposition.
President Brabec made "unity" the slogan and the goal of the Federation.
The constitution and by-laws of the CFL were amended to make this office appointed instead of elective. Michael Bruton, Vice President of the United Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, was appointed Assistant to the President and assumed his duties in January of 1986.
President Brabec died in November of 1986.
Robert Healey, then Secretary-Treasurer, was elected president in January of 1987. Michael Bruton was elected Secretary-Treasurer the next month.
Don Turner, Vice President of the Chicago Teachers Union, was appointed Assistant to the President to succeed Bruton.
President Healey retired in June of 1994.
That same year, Michael Bruton was elected CFL President and Don Turner was elected Secretary-Treasurer without opposition. Dennis J. Gannon, Business Representative of Operating Engineers Local 150, was appointed Assistant to the President.
President Bruton died in November of 1995.
Secretary-Treasurer Don Turner was then elected President and Dennis Gannon was elected Secretary-Treasurer without opposition. Tim Leahy, Collective Bargaining Representative of Local 881 of the United Food & Commercial Workers, was appointed Assistant to the President.
CFL President Don Turner announced his retirement in 2002. At the June 2002 Delegates Meeting, CFL delegates elected Dennis J. Gannon without opposition to serve as President for a new four-year term.
CFL delegates also elected Timothy J. Leahy as CFL Secretary-Treasurer. The election by acclamation and subsequent approval of the Officers and Executive Board Members “Progress in Unity” slate occurred on May 7, 2002 at The Chicago Federation of Musicians’ Hall in Chicago.
The CFL today continues to stand firm and unified against attacks on wages, hours and conditions of union members. It has renewed its ties with the religious community through the Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues and has formed many other successful community and labor coalitions.
Focused on mobilization and energized to help organize the unorganized through its Cook County Cooperative Organizing Committee, the CFL will continue to build and prepare for the future during its next 100 years. |
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