Problems Affecting Labor

Abstract

To war workers, contract termination raises one question which overshadows all others-the question of their future jobs. Post-war employment as the source of future livelihood is the foremost concern of the vast majority of workers now performing war work. After the war, American workers want jobs above everything else. Their overwhelming preference is for real jobs in private employment. But even more overwhelming is their desire that these jobs provide a way to betterment. To them the most essential requirements of post-war employment are: (i) Income which is (a) sufficient to meet a standard of health and decent living even for the lowest paid; (b) sufficient to cover wear and tear-physical deterioration and economic attrition-inflicted upon a large part of our labor force by the sustained war production effort, overtime, and night work often performed while living under strained war conditions; and (c) sufficient to provide opportunity for economic advancement. (2) Job stability as a source of economic security. Workers ask many subsidiary but important questions about employment to be available to them when their present war jobs are terminated. Will the new jobs mean moving to another locality or area? Will the new job be related to the work experience and training gained during the war? Will additional training, outside regular employment, be necessary in order to secure suitable employment? Will seniority rights gained in wartime be preserved in their access to and advancement in their post-war jobs? Will there be a clear cut wage policy to safeguard the basic wage standards? Will price control be retained long enough to prevent deterioration of earnings through inflation? Current thinking among workers in war employment is characterized by extreme confidence that regular employment at fair pay will be available to them when their war jobs are terminated. This confidence extends not only to the immediate availability of jobs after the termination of war work but also to a long term job