Labor unions have played a significant role in shaping labor rights and working conditions in the United States. Below is a list of notable unions along with their formation dates:
| Union Name | Abbreviation | Year Formed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers | N/A | 1794 | One of the earliest recorded labor unions in the U.S., formed by shoemakers in Philadelphia. Investopedia |
| National Labor Union | NLU | 1866 | The first national labor federation in the U.S., aiming to unify various trade unions. Wikipedia |
| Knights of Labor | KOL | 1869 | An influential labor organization that promoted the social and cultural uplift of workers. Wikipedia |
| American Federation of Labor | AFL | 1886 | Founded by Samuel Gompers, it focused on securing better wages, hours, and working conditions for skilled workers. Union Plus |
| International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers | IBEW | 1891 | Represents workers in the electrical industry. Wikipedia |
| United Mine Workers of America | UMWA | 1890 | Advocates for miners’ rights and safety. Wikipedia |
| International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers | IAMAW | 1888 | Represents workers in the aerospace and manufacturing industries. Wikipedia |
| Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America | ACWA | 1914 | Represented workers in the clothing industry; later merged to form UNITE. Wikipedia |
| United Auto Workers | UAW | 1935 | Represents workers in the automobile, aerospace, and agricultural implement industries. Wikipedia |
| Congress of Industrial Organizations | CIO | 1935 | A federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions; later merged with AFL. Wikipedia |
| Service Employees International Union | SEIU | 1921 | Represents workers in healthcare, public services, and property services. Wikipedia |
| American Federation of Teachers | AFT | 1916 | Represents teachers and other educational workers. Wikipedia |
| American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees | AFSCME | 1932 | Represents public sector employees. Wikipedia |
| United Steelworkers | USW | 1942 | Represents workers in the steel industry and other sectors. Wikipedia |
| National Education Association | NEA | 1857 | Represents public school educators and support professionals. Wikipedia |
| International Brotherhood of Teamsters | IBT | 1903 | Represents a diverse membership, including freight drivers and warehouse workers. Wikipedia |
| Communication Workers of America | CWA | 1947 | Represents workers in telecommunications, media, and other sectors. Wikipedia |
| Laborers’ International Union of North America | LIUNA | 1903 | Represents construction laborers and public service employees. Wikipedia |
| International Union of Painters and Allied Trades | IUPAT | 1887 | Represents painters, drywall finishers, and allied trades. Library of Congress Guides |
| International Longshore and Warehouse Union | ILWU | 1937 | Represents dock workers and warehouse employees. Wikipedia |
| United Farm Workers | UFW | 1962 | Advocates for the rights of farmworkers. Wikipedia |
| National Postal Mail Handlers Union | NPMHU | 1912 | Represents mail handlers in the U.S. Postal Service. Wikipedia |
| American Postal Workers Union | APWU | 1971 | Represents clerks, maintenance employees, and other postal workers. Wikipedia |
| International Association of Fire Fighters | IAFF | 1918 | Represents professional firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Wikipedia |
| United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America | UBCJA | 1881 | Represents carpenters and related trades. Wikipedia |
| International Union of Operating Engineers | IUOE | 1896 | Represents construction equipment operators and stationary engineers. Wikipedia |
| National Association of Letter Carriers | NALC | 1889 | Represents city letter carriers employed by the U.S. Postal Service. Wikipedia |
| American Federation of Government Employees | AFGE | 1932 | Represents federal government employees. Wikipedia |
| International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers | IW | 1896 | Represents ironworkers in the construction industry. Wikipedia |
| Transport Workers Union of America | TWU | 1934 | Represents workers in public transportation, including airlines and railroads. Wikipedia |
| Office and Professional Employees International Union | OPEIU | 1945 | Represents white-collar office workers in both the public and private sectors. Wikipedia |
| Amalgamated Transit Union | ATU | 1892 | Represents transit workers in the U.S. and Canada. Wikipedia |
| International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees | IATSE | 1893 | Represents technicians, artisans, and craftspersons in the entertainment industry. Wikipedia |
| United Food and Commercial Workers | UFCW | 1979 | Represents workers in the retail, meatpacking, and food processing industries. |