The United States of america

The United States has a long history of collective action, worker militancy, and trade union activity dating well into the 19th-century. The United States was the birthplace of early labour organizations and unions such as the Knights of Labor, the American Federation of Labour (AFL), and the syndicalist-led Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). From the Pullman Strike to the 1920s West Virginia coalfields, from airspace unions battling with Ronald Reagan to fights for the right to strike in the present, the conflict between working class labourers and powerful bosses has played a significant role in American history. The United States has also been home to some of the most famous trade union and labour leaders, such as "Big" Bill Haywood or Walter Reuther, and some of the most controversial, such as Jimmy Hoffa.

The International Trade Union History and Memory Network is proud to host material covering some elements of this critical and defining history.