keywords: united states labor department, wwii, world war ii, war workers, 1962 manpower development and training act
Synopsis: Examines the expansion of the Department of Labor in an age of scientific advancement, its contributions to war production and labor-management relations, and the passing of the Manpower Development and Training Act... (read more)
Short clips depict start of WWII: Hitler reviews German soldiers marching in review, German paratroopers jump from transport plane, newspaper headline reads Pearl Harbor Bombed, continuing with American workers producing military trucks, tanks, bombers, fighter planes, bombs, and other weapons for war.
Peace celebration and Military parade after victory. Troop ship returning American soldiers home. Clip of boxer delivering left hook knockout punch to opponent. Shows labor unrest as price controls are lifted and prices climb. Man on stilts with sign that reads “I Am Price” depicting price increase of consumer goods.
1949 the first of four post war recessions depicted by closed factory, empty street, No Help Wanted sign. America is thrust into the age of space depicted by rocket launch, computer tape reels, machinery automation, industrial robotic arms. Clip of atomic bomb explosion. Shows automated machinery or automatic equipment, computer room, new production methods depicting the need for workers with higher education level displacing the unskilled worker. Images of unskilled workers displaced by automatic machines and automation.
In 1962 Congress passed the Manpower Development And Training Act designed to help the unskilled and unemployed worker. Excellent clip of labor, management, and Labor Department negotiator at bargaining table depicting the union-management negotiation process. Image of a handshake to finalize the negotiations that resulted in labor-management wage and hours agreement and improved labor-management relations.