Boris Basil Shishkin (October 28, 1906 – June 12, 1984) served many different roles in his 38 years at American Federation of Labor, including as the head of the AFL–CIO Department of Civil Rights following the merger of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955.
[2] He began school at Columbia University in 1927, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics in 1930 and his master's degree in 1931.
[1][2][3] He also drafted articles and speeches for William Green, president of the AFL.
[1][2][3] The AFL and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged in 1955 to form the AFL–CIO; Shishkin became the secretary of the AFL–CIO Housing Committee.
[1][2] During his time with the AFL also held several positions, including as secretary on the social security committee (1951–1953),[1] as one of the 15 members of the President's Committee on Civil Rights (1946–1947),[2][3] as Special Assistant to Marshall Plan head Averell Harriman at the European Headquarters in Paris (1948–1952),[1] and as a board member of the League for Industrial Democracy.