Railway Employes' Department
The Railway Employes' Department (RED) was a semi-autonomous department of the AFL–CIO.
History
The department was founded in 1908, as the Railroad Employes' Department, and was chartered by the American Federation of Labor in February 1909. In 1915, it became the "Railway Employes' Department", and it continued to use the old spelling of employees throughout its existence.{{cite book |last1=Palladino |first1=Grace |last2=Albert |first2=Peter J. |title=The Samuel Gompers Papers: Progress and reaction in the age of reform, 1909-13 |date=1986 |publisher=University of Illinois Press}} By 1925, the department had nine affiliates:{{cite book |title=Handbook of American Trade Unions |date=1926 |publisher=United States Department of Labor |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_0420_1926.pdf |access-date=24 April 2022}}
- Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees
- Brotherhood of Railway Carmen
- International Association of Machinists
- International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths, Drop Forgers, and Helpers
- International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, and Helpers
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- International Brotherhood of Stationery Firemen and Oilers
- Sheet Metal Workers' International Association
- Switchmen's Union of North America
In 1926, the Railway Labor Executives' Association was founded, a broader organization within which the president of the RED had a single vote.Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1972, p. 4.
In 1955, the department became part of the new AFL-CIO.{{cite book |title=Directory of National and International Labor Unions in the United States |date=1957 |publisher=United States Department of Labor |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_1222_1957.pdf |access-date=18 April 2022}} It was dissolved in 1980. In 1990, a new Transportation Trades Department was founded.Abramson, Howard S. "AFL-CIO Creates Transport Trades Unit." Journal of Commerce. November 17, 1989.
Presidents
:1908: Henry B. Perham
:1912: Arthur O. Wharton
:1922: Bert M. Jewell
:1946: Fred N. Aten
:1961: Michael Fox
:1969: James E. Yost