Which labor leader is known for using techniques like strikes and boycotts to improve working conditions?

Samuel Gompers is recognized for effectively using strikes and boycotts as key tactics to improve labor conditions. As the founder and president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), Gompers advocated for the rights of skilled workers and focused on practical goals such as better wages, shorter working hours, and safer working conditions. His approach emphasized collective bargaining over political action, seeking to negotiate directly with employers to yield tangible benefits for workers.

The AFL under Gompers promoted the idea that organized labor could leverage strikes and boycotts to exert pressure on companies, thereby compelling them to address the workers' demands. Gompers believed in the power of unified action and often mobilized workers to participate in these direct actions, which allowed labor unions to showcase their strength and solidarity in the face of opposition from business owners.

His legacy is significant in American labor history, as he laid the groundwork for future labor movements and set a precedent for using collective action as a means of advocacy for workers' rights. The use of strikes and boycotts became staples of labor activism, demonstrating the effectiveness of organized efforts in advocating for improved working conditions.