The Wisconsin State Federation of Labor (WSFL), affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, was the largest federation of labor unions in Wisconsin, from its formation in 1893 at the behest of the Milwaukee Federated Trades Council to its 1958 merger with the smaller CIO-affiliated Wisconsin State Industrial Council to form the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.[1] [2]
A number of WSFL leaders were also elected to public office in Wisconsin, in part due to its roots in and alliance with the Socialist Party, especially Milwaukee's so-called Sewer Socialists.
editor/publisher of one of the WSFL's two official newspapers, and Socialist Congressman
professor, editor, Socialist (later Progressive) legislator, WSFL union organizer (hired to supplement his meagre legislative salary), Democratic Congressman, and union lobbyist
cigar maker, WSFL official and Socialist state legislator
cigar maker, WSFL delegate, and Socialist state legislator
house painter, union organizer, WSFL board member, and Socialist state legislator
baker, union activist and organizer, and Socialist state legislator
glassblower, WSFL board member, Socialist state legislator and nominee for Governor of Wisconsin
labor lawyer, legal counsel for WSFL, Socialist state senator, and later first general counsel of the American Federation of Labor
teacher, railway brakeman, union officer and organizer, Socialist political activist, and newspaper editor, one of the founders of the WSFL
reporter, writer, editor, poet, and WSFL delegate
papermaker, vice-president of the International Brotherhood of Paper Makers, WSFL board member and Republican (later Progressive) Congressman
pro-labor Progressive state legislator who was hired as a WSFL staffer to supplement his meagre legislative salary
seaman, union organizer, first president of the WSFL, and Socialist state legislator