1st World War helped strengthen the establishment of Labour Movements
The First World War conflict began just as the United States was struggling with economic collapse in the year 1914; it was hence seen as a chance for the country to solve its economic crisis (Taillon, 2017). The entry of America into the war meant creation of jobs for many people in U.S. because war industries like Ship building, shipping and lumber among many others required more workforces. This was indeed true, World War 1 created many jobs for both men and women which helped the nation to deal with its recession issue through increased production.
The many orders for mass-produced goods for the war from the foreign countries in the dawn of the year 1914 and the mass migration of Europeans into America greatly helped tighten the American labor market. The war gave United States a chance to expend its foreign markets and also to compete for its place in both the political and economic influence (Archer, 2018). With increased jobs in the US, the labor unions also increased as they tried to push for good working conditions for the workers. Before the First World War, union movements had already started to emerge in most regions of the world. The main reason for their emergence was to fight for a democratic society controlled by workers and not tied to just the interests of businesses (Taillon, 2017). Most of the movements for social change that were in existence during this period were based on labor rights.
As the war advanced there were growing objections in reaction to the state’s determination to maximize manufacture, organizational changes in businesses, diminishing real pays, security and also living situations over the progression of the war. The effort by the US to increase labor productivity led to unfair working conditions in the labour industry, workers were forced to work for more hours and children were introduced into the labour market (Archer, 2018). This led to many misunderstandings between employers and their employees, and it affected production of war requirements. The national policy makers recognized that the magnitude of deployment that was essential for the war needed the workers and the unions to be on their side which led to the power of the labour unions. The labour movements advocated against child labour, better working conditions and for better wages (Archer, 2018). Employers required reliable labour force to help ensure that there is continued progress during this period and they hence exploited the workers to work overtime and for less pay which was very inhumane. Such unfairness was one of the reasons the labour unions increased as they tried to fight for fair working conditions for these workers. The unions helped to give the workers much greater leverage and a stronger voice that they had ever had during the poor economic times in the United States.
The war greatly increased state involvement in labor relations, and it led to a tightening alliance between Wilson’s government and the Democratic Party. This association helped to strengthen labor union’s presence in America as it encouraged more workers and employers to be members of the unions (Taillon, 2017). The political realities and the intensifying labor conflicts fetched by the war imparted economy greatly motivated Wilson to accommodate the labour unions. The labour unions that were created at this time took advantage of the effects of the war on labour market to push for more recognition. The tight labor markets and the intensifying price of living prompted the employees to change jobs with cumulative occurrence. The pursuit for higher salaries and better working situations motivated many of the people to be members of the labor movements (Kindig, 2008). The unions created regulations that governed the workers to ensure that everything was running smoothly in regards to production of goods and services that were required for the war. One example of the regulations agreed upon by the unions is the not to strike pledges which would have greatly affected the efforts of the war. The US government at the time, created the National War Labor Board which helped to ensure that employers and employees related well with each other.
Most of the labour unions were in support of the war, because this is what helped to strengthen their presence in the society. There was hence strong criticism for the unions that were against the war and their leaders even got jailed. The war opposing unions reasoned that the war even though it led to prosperity in the US society, would lead to more conflicts in the class system (Archer, 2018). Such unions were then regarded as un-American for having anti-war views because the war was looked at as the saviour for the American economy. The strike wave that happened between 1915 and 1916 further pushed the federal administration into labor organization associations, and this further helped to strengthen the presence of the unions where basic parameters of labour policies were established (Kindig, 2008). This led to formation of the United States Commission on Industrial Relations. The commission investigated the causes of the industrial conflicts and industrial violence lading to the strikes to come up with a solution to the issue. The verdict of the commission argued against wealth inequality, in humane working environments and redundancy (Archer, 2018). This argument greatly supported and strengthened the presence of labour unions. The commission encouraged the federal government to create policies that support and ensure the wellbeing of workers. The commission argued that giving the workers a voice through the unions motivated their production and this helped achieve the goal of industrial democracy.
As war was ending, it was a troubling time for the labour unions which were not willing to give up the gains they had during the war (Archer, 2018). This greatly affected the economy which started to fluctuate as worker strikes became common, with workers fighting to have their wages increased and for better working conditions. Most people looked at the unions as a threat to the American way of life given that they were seen to be the cause of the chaos. This led to the creation of National War Labour Board (NWLB) in 1918 which consisted of representatives from the employers and the labour unions and co-chairs representatives from the public, which investigated the cases in various firms (Taillon, 2017). The co-chair Frank Walsh argued that workers should only work for eight hours a day and that they should be given fair salaries. He also argued that collective bargaining was an effective strategy for workers and their employers to come to agreement on work issues (Taillon, 2017). His argument won and workers were able to get higher wages, shorter working hours and the principle of collective bargaining.
Wilson’s administration approach greatly fostered growth of unions; participation of workers in the unions increased by 70% in the years 1917 and 1920 (Taillon, 2017). A good illustration of this is the indirect control of the government in coal mining, which helped the United Mine Workers to have more than five hundred members leading it to be one of the major unions in the United States at the time.
References
Archer, R. (2018). Liberty and Loyalty: The Great War and Labour’s Conscription Dilemma.
Australian Journal of Politics & History, 64(1), 18–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajph.12460
Kindig, J. (2008). Labour Movements, Trade Unions and Strikes (USA). Retrieved from
https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/labour_movements_trade_unions_and_strikes_usa
Taillon, P. M. (2017). Labour Movements, Trade Unions and Strikes (USA). Retrieved from
https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/labour_movements_trade_unions_and_strikes_usa
