Labor and War
Labor and War.The relationship between the paid labor force (union and nonunion workers) and the government at war is twofold. First, any country engaged in hostilities needs the ability to employ an ever‐increasing proportion of the general population in both military service and defense industries. In the twentieth century, demands for wartime labor increased dramatically from earlier centuries. Labor shortages were among the greatest obstacles to steady production of armaments and war materiel and the mobilization of mass armies. Need for labor increased its value, necessitating serious consideration of workers' demands. As a result, the major wars of the twentieth century witnessed record levels of union growth and labor militancy. Such militancy was further spurred by inflation and food and housing shortages. At the same time, political pressure to produce materiel and to reduce social conflict provided the context for the suppression of civil liberties...
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