what was the impact of 1st and 2nd world wars on labour rights Flashcards
what did the increased demand in production mean for employers
opportunity to increase profits
had to adopt a more conciliatory attitude towards unions and their members
what did the wars encourage
government intervention in the economy (which benefited the workers)
WW1 union membership
1916 vs. 1920
1916 = 2.7 million 1920 = 5 million
ww2 union membership
1940 vs. 1945
1940 = 8.9 million 1945 = 14.8 million
what is the improved position of workers reflected by
the increase in membership to unions
other that the more conciliatory apporach what else did workers benefit from
rise in real wages = raised standards of living for industrial workers
ww1 rise in real wages
20%
ww2 rise is real wages
70% (owing to increases in overtime pay)
ww1 NWLB established
1. what did it do?
recognised the unions as representing the workers
guaranteed their rights to join a union in return for a no-strike policy and cooperation
ww1 how did employers respond to the NWLB
positively = introduced 8-hour working days
ww2 NWLB re-established
- what did it do
- how was it different from WW1
- largely took control of industry away from employers. supportive of unions
- president was given the power to take control of factories where strike action threatened war effort
WW2
what helped strengthen the position of workers and provide opportunities for many who had been excluded from the work force (AA, Women)
labour shortage due to growth in armed forces and the ending of immigration
why was industrial unrest common during post war periods
employers sought to regain control and limit/reverse gains that organised labour had made
GAINS TEMPORARY
post war - how many workers involved in strikes
1919
1946
1919 = 4 million workers 1946 = 4.5 million workers
