Founder and long-time President of the American Federation of Labor. Focused Amer. Labors efforts on bread and butter; not politics (for good or for bad). When asked what Amer. Labor wants, Gompers said they want more.
Feldman was an American civil rights activist, educator and labor leader who served as president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) from 1997 to 2004.
Shanker was a tough head of NYC and (later) national office of the American Fed. of Teachers. Got more for teachers, but never completely recovered from line in Woody Allen movie Sleeper. Woody wakes up after 200 yrs. of sleep and is told civilization ended when a man named Shanker got the bomb.
Leader of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union at the height of its power in the 30s. A skilled garment cutter, he once met John D. Rockefeller, Jr.& brushed his jacket as they shook hands. Despite himself, Dubinsky exclaimed, wonderful material.