WW2

Question 1

growth in union membership during WW2

Answer 1

8.9 million (1940) to 14.8 million (1945)

Question 2

taft-hartley act (1947)

Answer 2

= limited power of unions

• prevented unions running a closed shop
• regulated relationship between unions & employers

Question 3

increase in wages during war

Answer 3

~70%

Question 4

what meant fewer workers were joining unions post-WW2

Answer 4

increase in number of white-collar workers & decrease in blue-collar workers

Question 5

what had a negative impact on the position of unions

Answer 5

boom & changing nature of economy after WW2

Question 6

how did increased technology & automation in many industries during the 1950s affect unions

Answer 6

• number of blue collar workers declined
• union membership in these industries fell around 50%
  = weakened bargaining power of unions & limited influence of unions

Question 7

how did changes in the economy affect unions

Answer 7

• growth in number of white-collar workers
• eg. service industries, government sectors
• many signed non-union agreements
  = limited influence of unions

Question 8

what also affected the position of unions

Answer 8

• growing number of women in employment
• often not interested & discouraged/did not want to join male-dominated unions

Question 9

what reduced the membership of the CIO

Answer 9

• government aimed to reduce influence of communists (believed dominated much of labour movement)
• expelled communist led groups from CIO = reduced membership

Question 10

industrial unrest post-WW2

Answer 10

1946 witnessed over 4.5 million workers involved in industrial action

Question 11

increase of women in the workforce 1940-1944

Answer 11

1940 = 800,000
1944 = 3 million