Government and labor: the coal industry, 1946-1947

The reconversion years after World War II were very important in the history of American labor. During this period of economic readjustment many strikes occured. The last of the major industrial conflicts was in the bituminous coal industry. This strike in 194& finally led to government seizure of the mines and government operation continued for thirteen months. As government operation continued a number of conflicts arose between the government and the United Mine Workers. These revolved around the problem of the rights of and the re* strictions on workers in seized industries. The United Mine Workers tried, unsuccessfully, to maintain union rights, applicable in private enterprise, as government employees. The result was the revival into law of the labor injunction and the later restrictions on union activities contained in the Taft-Hartley Act. Another development of the conflict was the handling of union demands for fringe benefits. The major United Mine Workers requests in 1946 and 1947 were for fringe benefits: mine safety regulation and funds for miners8 welfare. It turned out that neither the government nor the mine owners knew the ramifications, both economic and social, of these proposals,, In both contracts, in 1946 and 1947? the union received major concessions in these areas, and has led the way in the American labor movement toward achieving increased benefits, outside of wages and hours, for its members.