National War Labor Board facts for kids
The National War Labor Board (NWLB) was a special group set up by the United States government. It was first created in 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson during World War I. Its main job was to stop worker strikes from hurting the war effort.
The NWLB had twelve members, including leaders from businesses and labor unions. Two important leaders were former President William Howard Taft and lawyer Frank Walsh. The board worked to find fair solutions between workers and companies. It ended in May 1919 after World War I.
The National War Labor Board was started again on January 12, 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. Its chairman was William Hammatt Davis. This second board also worked to prevent strikes and manage worker issues during the war.
The NWLB in World War I
When the United States joined World War I in April 1917, the government worried about strikes. They feared strikes could stop factories from making military supplies needed for the war. To prevent this, President Woodrow Wilson created the National War Labor Board.
This board officially recognized that workers had the right to form unions. It also supported their right to bargain collectively, meaning workers could negotiate together for better conditions. Former President Taft and Frank Walsh were the main leaders of this board.
The NWLB didn't have much power to force decisions. Instead, it relied on its ability to negotiate and help both sides find compromises. They were successful in stopping many strikes from happening. After Germany was defeated and the war ended, the board was closed down in 1919.
Even after the board closed, it had supported important ideas. It backed the idea of an eight-hour day for workers. It also pushed for equal pay for equal work, no matter if the worker was a man or a woman.
The NWLB in World War II
President Franklin D. Roosevelt brought the National War Labor Board back on January 12, 1942. This was during World War II. William Hammatt Davis was the chairman of this new board.
The board's main goals were to prevent disputes between workers and companies. It also worked to make sure that higher wages didn't cause inflation, which is when prices for goods go up too much.
The NWLB generally supported labor unions. It encouraged companies to offer extra benefits to workers instead of just higher wages. This helped avoid inflation. In 1942, the board started a "maintenance of membership" rule. This rule helped unions gain many new members.
Unions understood they needed to keep their members from striking to get good decisions from the NWLB. Even with these efforts, some strikes still happened during the war. Most of these were "wildcat strikes," meaning they were not officially approved by the unions.
The CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations), a large union group, worked closely with the board. Even when the number of strikes was highest in 1944, CIO members kept their promise not to strike. By the end of the war, the CIO had nearly 5 million members.
The NWLB also helped with solving disagreements. It encouraged the use of paid arbitrators, who are people who help settle disputes. By the end of the war, many disputes were settled this way. The board was closed down in 1945. Just like after World War I, a wave of strikes broke out soon after the NWLB ended.
