Archives West Finding Aid

In the wake of the Great Depression, a more radical faction within the capital-friendly American Federation of Labor (AFL) split to form its own organization. The Committee for Industrial Organization was formed in 1935, and changed its name to The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1938. Upon its formation, the CIO launched a hugely successful organizing campaign in the basic industries in the United States. They launched a Political Action Committee, and encouraged members to be more politically involved than members of the AFL. For twenty years, the CIO's success challenged the authority of the AFL over the United States labor movement. During the 1940s, each organization dealt with serious internal issues. The AFL had trouble with gangster-dominated affiliates, while the CIO barred communist members from holding office in 1948 and had to expel eleven affiliated unions said to be communist-dominated between 1949 and 1950.

To promote unity in the labor movement, and to provide mutual support in dealing with challenges, the AFL and CIO merged. In 1955, the AFL-CIO was formed, led by former head of the AFL George Meany.

The Washington State CIO was a subordinate body to the CIO, representing CIO affiliates in Washington State, including industries such as steel and woodworking. Like the CIO as a whole, the Washington State CIO had an active Political Action Committee, and dealt with serious challenges as it barred communist members from holding office or dominating affiliate unions. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Washington State CIO was Harold Slater.