Who created the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)?

The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was established in the 1930s primarily through the efforts of John L. Lewis, who was a prominent labor leader and president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). His vision was to create a federation that would organize industrial workers across various sectors, in contrast to the skilled trades focus of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) at the time.

Lewis played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of workers, pushing for better pay, working conditions, and the right to unionize. His leadership in the formation of the CIO was pivotal in expanding union membership to include not just skilled workers but also unskilled laborers in mass production industries, thus significantly altering the labor landscape in the United States.

While other leaders like Walter Reuther, Sidney Hillman, and Samuel Gompers were also influential within the labor movement, they were either involved in later developments or belonged to organizations that had different foundational principles. Gompers, for instance, was a key figure in the AFL, which focused primarily on skilled labor. Understanding the contributions and leadership of John L. Lewis clarifies his critical role in the founding of the CIO.