This document traces the U.S. labor movement's history, documents its achievements, and describes its goals. The labor movement played a central role in the elevation of the U.S. standard of living through benefits negotiated by unions, such as vacations with pay, pensions, health and welfare protection, and grievance and arbitration procedures. In response to a need for an organized labor movement, representatives from a few trades and industries met at Pittsburgh on November 15, 1881, forming the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) evolved from this earlier organization and was formalized on December 8, 1886 with 300,000 members in 25 unions. In 1938, John L. Lewis left this federation, formed the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), and quickly brought industrial unionism to large sectors of basic U.S. industry. The strength of the AFL and CIO, coupled with Roosevelt's domestic programs, led to passage of a number of national social programs. In 1955, the AFL and CIO reunited and formed the AFL-CIO. Full employment and the strengthening of free unions throughout the world are ongoing objectives of the AFL-CIO. A teacher's guide is provided that contains goals, objectives, key concepts, terms, people, events, and legislation. (SM)