Question 1

The National War Labor Board was a tripartite board consisting of representatives from business, labor, and government and was responsible for settling labor disputes during WWII.

Accepted Answer

This is a true statement. The National War Labor Board was created in 1942 and was responsible for preventing labor strikes and ensuring maximum production in the defense industry during World War II.

Question 2

The General Motors sit-down strike in 1936 was so successful that a wave of unionization followed throughout the auto industry.

Accepted Answer

The General Motors sit-down strike in 1936 did indeed lead to a wave of unionization throughout the auto industry.

Question 3

World War II was followed by a period of intense strike activity.

Accepted Answer

Following World War II, there was a surge in strike activity as workers demanded better wages, benefits, and working conditions. This period of intense labor unrest came to be known as the post-war strike wave.

Question 4

While the late 1900s proved to be a challenging time for the labor movement, in the 21^st century unions have enjoyed a resurgence of power.

Accepted Answer

In the 21st century, unions have faced continued challenges, including declining membership in many countries, legislative efforts to limit their power, and the rise of gig economy jobs that are difficult to unionize.

Question 5

Labor-management relations in the 1980s was characterized by concession bargaining, job loss, and the decline of manufacturing in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

Labor-management relations in the 1980s was indeed characterized by concession bargaining, job loss, and the decline of manufacturing in the U.S.

Question 6

The National War Labor Board was instrumental in institutionalizing and legitimating unions in the United States because it provided a legal forum that recognized the role of unions in representing worker needs.

Accepted Answer

The National War Labor Board played a significant role in recognizing and promoting the importance of unions in representing worker needs. It helped establish collective bargaining between employers and unions, regulated labor disputes, and set standards for wages and working conditions. Through its actions, it helped foster an environment in which unions could thrive and gain legitimacy as important representatives of workers' interests.

Question 7

The Great Strike Wave of 1945-46 resulted from pent-up frustrations over declining purchasing power and management attempts to reassert control over management decisions after World War II ended.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the causes of the Great Strike Wave of 1945-46, which was a widespread labor movement in the United States that involved mostly blue-collar workers and resulted in over 4 million workers going on strike during a period of 14 months. The end of World War II had unleashed economic growth and productivity gains, but also led to inflation and a decrease in real wages for many workers. At the same time, management in some industries tried to roll back union gains and impose greater control over workers, which led to tensions and disputes. The strike wave represented a response to these underlying economic and labor relations issues, as well as a show of strength and solidarity by workers who felt empowered and emboldened to take action.

Question 8

Today a general unionism model has largely replaced both craft and industrial unionism.

Accepted Answer

General unionism, also known as industrial unionism, is a model that seeks to organize workers across industries and occupations, rather than focusing on specific crafts or trades like craft unionism or specific industries like industrial unionism. This approach aims to unite all workers, regardless of their skillset or industry, in their fight for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. As such, general unionism has become the dominant unionism model today.

Question 9

The outcome of the Great Strike Wave of 1945-46 was to reinforce the role of labor as a negotiating partner over wages, benefits and seniority and as a partner in making decisions regarding production and management of businesses.

Accepted Answer

The Great Strike Wave of 1945-46 primarily resulted in the reinforcement of labor's role in negotiating over wages, benefits, and seniority, but it did not establish labor as a partner in making decisions regarding production and management of businesses. The strikes underscored labor's demands for better conditions and pay, but management and ownership largely retained control over production and business decisions.

Question 10

Change to Win is made up of the SEIU, the Teamsters, and the United Farm Workers.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Change to Win is a federation of labor unions that includes the SEIU, the Teamsters, and the United Farm Workers, among others.

Question 11

Nonunion organizations that represent workers through such means as education, protest, lobbying, and lawsuits are known as "alt-right" organizations.

Accepted Answer

Nonunion organizations that represent workers through such means as education, protest, lobbying, and lawsuits are not typically associated with the "alt-right" movement, which is a far-right, white nationalist political ideology.

Question 12

In the early days of the CIO, one of the key features that distinguished it from the AFL was an acceptance of minorities, immigrants, and women into the union.

Accepted Answer

This is true. The CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) was formed in the 1930s and was known for its more inclusive approach to union organizing, compared to the AFL (American Federation of Labor). The CIO actively sought to organize workers regardless of their race, ethnicity, or gender. Women and minorities held leadership positions in some CIO unions, and the organization played an important role in advancing civil rights and supporting anti-discrimination legislation.

Question 13

The AFL and CIO merged in 1955 largely to decrease competition between rival unions and increase their power in dealing with management.

Accepted Answer

The merger of AFL and CIO in 1955 was primarily aimed at decreasing competition between the two rival unions and increasing their bargaining power and influence in dealing with management. By merging, they eliminated overlapping jurisdictions and consolidated their resources, creating a more unified and stronger labor movement in the United States.

Question 14

Some historians argue that the PATCO strike re-established a tone, or pattern of adversarial labor-management relations and union suppression in the U.S. that is still felt today.

Accepted Answer

The PATCO strike, which occurred in 1981, is widely considered a turning point in the relationship between labor and management in the United States. President Reagan's decision to fire striking air traffic controllers and permanently replace them was seen as a significant blow to organized labor and paved the way for more aggressive anti-union policies in subsequent years. Some historians argue that this strike re-established a tone of adversarial labor-management relations and union suppression that continues to be felt today. Therefore, the statement that some historians argue that the PATCO strike re-established a tone of adversarial labor-management relations and union suppression in the U.S. that is still felt today is true.

Question 15

While racism and discrimination were significant problems in the larger social fabric of the U.S. during the 1960s, labor unions were instrumental in providing protection and relief from discrimination.

Accepted Answer

While labor unions did provide some protection and support for workers, they were not always effective in combating racism and discrimination, and in some cases, they even perpetuated discriminatory practices themselves.

Question 16

During the 1930s, membership in the AFL grew significantly due its emphasis on unionizing small employers rather than large manufacturing companies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the 1930s, membership in the AFL...

Question 17

In 2005, the AFL-CIO split into rival AFL and CIO union federations, divided along craft and industrial lines.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. The AFL and CIO merged in 1955, and have remained as one labor federation since then. They have not split into separate federations based on craft and industrial lines.

Question 18

Between 1936 and 1941, employers used intimidation and force to control workers in auto and steel industries and hired labor spies to infiltrate their unions.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. During the period of 1936-1941, employers utilized various tactics, including violence and spy tactics, to suppress labor unions and control their workers in the auto and steel industries.

Question 19

When the CIO formed in 1938, it was much weaker than the AFL and did not pose much of a threat to AFL membership.

Accepted Answer

The CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) was formed in 1938 as a rival to the AFL (American Federation of Labor) specifically because it aimed to organize industrial workers across entire industries, regardless of skill level, which was a departure from the AFL's focus on skilled trades. This approach allowed the CIO to rapidly grow in membership and influence, organizing large numbers of workers in key industries and posing a significant challenge to the AFL.

Question 20

Since the 1960s, union membership in the public sector has seen a dramatic decline.

Accepted Answer

Since the 1960s, union membership in the public sector has actually increased, contrasting with the private sector where union membership has seen a significant decline.

Quiz 3: Historical Development