Truman and Trade Unions

BEFORE THE END OF WW2
1. Stronger than in 1920s
2. The Wagner Act (1935) increased their power and membership
3. TWO main labour unions
  1. American Federation of Labour
  2. Congress of Industrial Organisations
4. 1945...
  1. 15 million workers
  2. 36% of non-agricultural workforce
AFTER THE WAR
1. INFLATION in US economy
  1. TUs demanded higher WAGES
  2. Agreed 18-19% wage increase BUT just made inflation WORSE
2. STRIKES in most industries
  1. record number
  2. NOV '45 = Gov organised peace conference
    1. Important to solve issue as TUs help fund Democrats
  3. LITLLE EFFECT in improving relations or TUs situation
1946 = Coal Strike
1. Potential to have large damage to economy
  1. Congress (REPUBLICAN) refused to use emergency powers to deal with strike
2. Railwaymen also
3. 400,000 WORKERS
Taft-Hartley Act, 1947
1. (Labour Managements Relations Act)
2. List of 'unfair' labour services
3. Don't have to be a TU member - 'closed shop'
4. Sign non-communist oaths
5. Bosses could sue TUs (certain circumstances)
6. President could ask for 80-day cooling period before a strike (incase of national threat)
7. Unions = ANGRY
  1. Truman vetoed congress but go later overturned
  2. "Slave labour Bill"
1952 = Steel Strike
1. Workers demanded higher WAGES due to high production for Korean War
2. Truman took control of steel mills
  1. FAIL as lost Supreme court challenge
3. 7 week strike followed
  1. Shortages
  2. Higher steel prices

Resource summary

	Created by Emily Bevis about 7 years ago