WW2 and it’s impacts on workers

Question 1

What improvements for workers were there in WW2?

Answer 1

. Wage’s increased for workers by around 70%
. Unemployment fell to such an extent that there was an actual labour shortage
. The resultant growth in workers pay and rights led to a dramatic increase in union membership with there being 5million union members in 1938 and over 15million by 1945.

Question 2

How did the war/ post war period not benefit workers/ unions?

Answer 2

. The Taft Hartley Act limited the power of the unions
. The growth in the number of white-collar workers and subsequent decline in blue-collar workers meant that fewer people were joining the unions, as a result overall union membership fell between 1945 and 1950.
. Union membership further fell as workers were often far better off than they had been, having gained paid holidays, healthcare, pensions etc.

Question 3

What was the Taft-Hartley Act?

Answer 3

. Introduced in 1947
. Prevented one union being dominant, and where all workers had to belong to it
. It also regulated the relationship between unions and employers