Indiana AFL–CIO
# Indiana AFL–CIO

The Indiana AFL–CIO is the Indiana state affiliate of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO), the largest national trade union center in the United States. It was established by a merger between the state affiliates of American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955. The roughly 400 local affiliates collectively represent approximately 300,000 active and retired workers.

## History

A notable precursor to the Indiana AFL–CIO was the Indiana Federation of Labor. The organization was founded on September 9, 1885; 137 years ago (1885-09-09) as the Indiana Federation of Trade and Labour Unions and was, at a point, the oldest operation state federation of labor. In 1897 the organization change its name to the Indiana State Federation of Labor. The federation was initially founded by members of the Knights of Labor, Moulders Union, Cigar Makers' Union, and the Typographical Union. The creation of the American Federation of Labor in 1886, a year after the Indiana Federation, is argued to have been inspired by the Indiana Federation.

## Presidents

### Indiana Federation of Labor

* Samuel Leffingwell (1885–1887)
* Emil Levy (1887–1891)
* Thomas M. Gruelle (1891–1893)
* Joseph F. Suchawk (1893–1895)
* Edgar A. Perkins (1895–1909)
* John Hughes (1909–1910)
* Edgar A. Perkins (1910–1913)
* Charles Fox (1913–1921)

## Area Labor Federations

* Hoosier Heartland Area Labor Federation – (based in Indianapolis, Indiana)
* Northern Indiana Area Labor Federation – (based in Merrillville, Indiana)
* Southern Indiana Area Labor Federation – (based in Bloomington, Indiana)
