American Federation of Labor, bringing qualified, most highly paid workers, close access to their ranks to the general workers. This was the organization of "aristocratic" elite of the working class of the United States of America. She sought for himself the privileges and concessions from the employers at the bargaining table. Members of the American Federation of Labor was more profitable to introduce the seven-hour working day in a single department, enterprises, rather than by law throughout the country, as it enables them to pursue more lucrative contracts for themselves with the industrialists in the future. The level of wages fixed by law, will soon "ceiling" rather than "sex", they said. And the fate of unskilled and semi-skilled workers was not worried. Entrepreneurs are also more likely to go on minor concessions to groups of workers than the workers of all countries. The leaders of the American Federation of Labor also feared that such legislation is unnecessary to convince the workers to establish and strengthen alliances.
This position, showing disregard for the interests of the general workers, did not meet the requirements of the working class in general and more in conflict with the objective processes of capitalist development, which in the beginning of XX century., With the expansion of mass production, helped increase the share of unskilled labor on enterprises.
The main arguments put forward by trade unions against the fight for legislation relating to social security, working hours, minimum wages, etc. were based on fear of government interference in the affairs of organized labor, which could be limited. Their privileges and freedom in dealing with trade union affairs, and under their control. And this control, as did the trade unions, could only have anti-union orientation.