It was founded on 30 April 1950, when Catholics in the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) left after they clashed with the communists on the issue of a general strike provoked by the latter.
CISL bildades den 30 april 1950 när katoliker i Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL) lämnade den senare efter meningsskiljaktigheter med kommunisterna angående en generalstrejk.