Truman & the Railroad Strike of 1946 - Part 1

When World War II ended, the wartime wage and price controls began to erode. During the war, there had been a no-strike agreement and disputes were generally settled through the National War Labor Board. But with the war over, a wave of major strikes erupted in 1946, including a railroad strike. We hear President Truman's radio address on the strike on May 24, 1946, in which he threatens to use the Army to run the trains. We also hear his address to Congress the next day, in which he asks for legislation to draft strikers. In the midst of his address, he receives word - and announces - that the strike has been settled. Truman wanted labor legislation of a permanent nature to deal with strikes. However, the following year, the Taft-Hartley Act - which had provisions he did not like - was passed over his veto. Taft-Hartley included injunction procedures for "National Emergency Disputes." This is Part 1 - the first half of the radio address. Part 2 has the completion of the broadcast. Part 3 is Truman's address to Congress.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Truman
• unions
• railroads
• strikes
• 1946
• labor-relations