San Francisco Labor Council

History

The San Francisco Labor Council was organized in 1892 and received its charter from the American Federation of Labor in May of 1893. In 1958 it merged with the San Francisco Congress of Industrial Organizations' Industrial Union Council, some 3 years after the national AFL-CIO merger.

The SFLC is the primary voice of organized labor in San Francisco, currently representing (1987) 130 affiliated union locals with close to 80,000 total members. In the late 1960s membership stood at over 200,000 represented by 150 local bodies. The largest locals came from the service and retail trades, the various machinist and building trades and the numerous marine industries.

The San Francisco Labor Council is one of the major bodies in the California State Federation of Labor and continues to play an active role in the international AFL-CIO.

The SFLC is governed by its Executive Council, members of which are elected by the general membership. The Council is represented by the elected Secretary/Treasurer, who conducts the daily business of the SFLC. Papers of the two of the Secretary/Treasurers are included in this collection. George W. Johns succeeded John F. Shelley in this office in 1950 when Shelley was elected to the U.S. Congress. Johns served until his retirement in 1972. He was replaced by his assistant secretary John F. Crowley who served until his untimely death in 1985. He is succeeded by Walter Johnson, current Secretary/Treasurer of the SFLC.

From the guide to the San Francisco Labor Council Records, 1902-1976, (predominantly 1965-1973), (San Francisco State University. Labor Archives & Research Center)