Congress of Industrial Organizations (U.S.). DC Industrial Union Council

The MWC first organized in 1896 as the Central Labor Union, chartered through the AFL. The local labor council garnered wider involvement through The Trades Unionist newspaper, which began printing soon after the council's conception until 1982. By 1935, the original 12 local member unions had grown to 156, representing 100,000 workers. In 1957, in accordance with the guidelines set by the AFL-CIO merger in 1955, the Central Labor Union merged with the DC Industial Union Council of the CIO to form the Greater Washington Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO. After the merger, the council became even more active in DC-area labor rights, including fighting for wage rights against the National Bank of Washington, helping to pass the right to federal sector collective bargaining, and the creation of the Labor Studies Center. In 1981, the council name was changed to its current-day name, the Metropolian Washington Council, AFL-CIO. Elected in 1982, Joslyn Williams became the first full-time paid President of the Council. Recent activism since the final name change includes fighting for unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, and progressive bargaining.