<P> The American Federation of Labor ( AFL ) organized as an association of trade unions in 1886 . The organization emerged from a dispute with the Knights of Labor ( K of L ) organization , in which the leadership of that organization solicited locals of various craft unions to withdraw from their International organizations and to affiliate with the K of L directly , an action which would have taken funds from the various unions and enriched the K of L 's coffers . The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions also merged into what would become the American Federation of Labor . </P>
<P> The American Federation of Labor ( AFL ) organized as an association of trade unions in 1886 . The organization emerged from a dispute with the Knights of Labor ( K of L ) organization , in which the leadership of that organization solicited locals of various craft unions to withdraw from their International organizations and to affiliate with the K of L directly , an action which would have taken funds from the various unions and enriched the K of L 's coffers . The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions also merged into what would become the American Federation of Labor . </P>
who did the american federation of labor represent
who did the american federation of labor represent
an association of trade unions
an association of trade unions