Correspondence of American Federation of Labor President William Green on Microfilm

William Green (1873-1952) was an American trade union leader. He is remembered for serving as the President of the American Federation of Labor from 1924 to 1952. Green became president of the AFL following the death of Samuel Gompers. In 1933, he persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt to appoint him to the Labor Advisory Council of the National Recovery Administration. He is also remembered for presiding over the split in the AFL which led to the founding of the congress of Industrial Organizations.

Under Green the AFL moved to a more cooperative style when politicking for labor. He promoted for a cutback in the hours of labor, believing that it would increase worker's living standards.

As a result of his support the Norris-La Guardia Act of 1932 was passed, directed at reducing the practice o f labor restrictions and elimination of "yellow dog contracts". Green was also succesful in gaining federation support for a national unemployment insurance system sponsored mostly by employer donations. In 1935 he helped with the passage of the National Labor Relations Act, aimed at empoering workers' rights to organize and take part in collective bargaining. And in 1938 Green helped to pass the Fair Labor Standards Act, becoming the first federal law in instituting minimum wages and the 40-hour work week.