 In 1903, AFL vice president John P. Frey had advocated that the AFL create an organization that would enable the federation to coordinate the jurisdictions, work assignments, wages, work rules and other aspects of work of its construction unions.Gompers had resisted such suggestions for several years, but Kirby's idea now seemed timely.Building and construction trade unions made up 20 percent of the AFL's membership, and Gompers could not afford to alienate them.