The Massachusetts AFL-CIO was formed as the Massachusetts state branch of the American Federation of Labor in 1887. Its purpose was to organize workers, advance the interests of workers through organization and legislation, and to provide general assistance in the event of difficulties such as strikes and lockouts.
Presidents of the Massachusetts State Federation of Labor and Massachusetts AFL-CIO
| 1887 |
C.G. Wilkins |
| 1887-1888 |
Charles Rawbone |
| 1888-1889 |
Henry Abrahams |
| 1889-1890 |
G.W. Clark |
| 1890-1891 |
J.F. Melaven |
| 1891-1894 |
O.A. Robbins |
| 1895-1899 |
J.D. Pierce |
| 1899-1900 |
Jonas Weener |
| 1900-1902 |
Frank H. McCarthy |
| 1902-1904 |
James R. Crozier |
| 1904-1906 |
Francis J. Clarke |
| 1906-1908 |
Edward Cohen |
| 1908-1909 |
Philip H. Sweet |
| 1909-1911 |
Thomas J. Durnin |
| 1911-1912 |
James W. Wall |
| 1912-1915 |
E.S. Alden |
| 1915-1916 |
Joseph J. Hunt |
| 1916-1918 |
George H. Wrenn |
| 1918-1920 |
William A. Nealey |
| 1920-1921 |
Thomas H. Gerraughty |
| 1921-1922 |
Jeremiah F. Driscoll |
| 1922-1924 |
William Walsh |
| 1924-1926 |
Michael J. O'Donnell |
| 1926-1928 |
John Van Vaerenewyck |
| 1928-1930 |
Joseph J. Cabral |
| 1930-1934 |
James T. Moriarty |
| 1934-1938 |
John F. Gatelee |
| 1938-1942 |
Nicholas P. Morrissey |
| 1942-1946 |
William J. Doyle |
| 1946-1949 |
John J. DelMonte |
| 1949-1955 |
Henry J. Brides |
| 1955-1958 |
John A. Callahan |
| 1958-1964 |
J. William Belanger (first president of Massachusetts AFL-CIO) |
| 1964-1972 |
Salvatore Camelio |
| 1972-1977 |
Joseph A. Sullivan |
| 1977-1979 |
William J. P. Cleary |
| 1979-1990 |
Arthur R. Osborn |
| 1990-Present |
Joseph C. Faherty |
