Records of the National War Labor Board (RG 202), 1942-1947
Records of Regions V, VI, XI, and Select Industry Commissions
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the National War Labor Board (NWLB) within the Office of Emergency Management on January 12, 1942 under Executive Order 9017. The Board was composed of 12 members, four representatives each of industry, labor, and the public. The Board鈥檚 primary responsibility was to peacefully settle labor disputes in order to prevent strikes or lock-outs in war industries. Like its predecessor the National Defense Mediation Board, the NWLB only handled disputes, including wage disputes, certified to it by the Secretary of Labor after the United States Conciliation Service had failed to effect settlement, but the Board had the authority to take up a case on its own motion after consultation with the Secretary of Labor.
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Initially, the Board centralized in operation in D.C. Mounting case load led to regionalization: 10 regional offices were created on November 22, 1942 and two more added on January 21, 1943. The NWLB further decentralized by creating special tripartite industry commissions and panels to deal with particular industries on a national, rather than a regional, basis. With the end of the war came the question of maintaining wage controls during the reconversion period. On September 19, 1945, an Executive Order transferred the NWLB was transferred to the Department of Labor. Executive Order 9672 terminated the National War Labor Board and established the National Wage Stabilization Board (NWSB) on December 31, 1945.
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The primary goal of the National Wage Stabilization Board, contained within the Department of Labor, was to administer the wage and salary stabilization program during the reconversion period and to continue certain minor dispute functions of its predecessor. Direct wage controls were limited to the consideration of proposals for wage decreases, the establishment of rates for new occupations or departments, and all wage and salary adjustments in the building and constructing industry. The National Board, and each regional Board, consisted of six members, two representatives each of industry, labor, and the public. In November 1946, President Harry S. Truman announced the removal of virtually all price controls and all wage and salary controls. Executive Order 9809 terminated the Board effective February 24, 1947.
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For more detail on the NWLB and NWSBs and the records NARA holds for these Boards across its regional facilities, see Preliminary Inventory 78 Records of the National War Labor Board (WWII) Compiled by Estelle Rebec, 1955. The 鈥淩ecord Entry Numbers鈥 listed in this finding aid come from this Preliminary Inventory.
The 威尼斯人娱乐场 at Chicago holds the records for three regional offices of the National War Labor Board: Region V, which was headquartered in Cleveland; Region VI, headquartered in Chicago; and Region XI, headquartered in Detroit. We also hold the records for three industry commissions: The Daily Newspaper Printing and Publishing Commission and the Meat Packing Commission, both headquartered in Chicago; and the Detroit Tool and Die Commission, headquartered in Detroit.听
Region V Records
Region V was headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and had jurisdiction over labor disputes in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The Regional office was established as part of the Office for Emergency Management on November 22, 1942. On September 19, 1945, an Executive Order transferred the NWLB was transferred to the Department of Labor. Executive Order 9672 terminated the National War Labor Board and established the National Wage Stabilization Board (NWSB) on December 31, 1945. Cleveland remained the headquarters of the National Wage Stabilization Board Region V until it was terminated by Executive Order 9809 effective February 24, 1947.
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The records created by the National War Labor Board and the National Wage Stabilization Board are maintained separately, though there is some continuity between series created by these two authorities.
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Some of the records for Region V are housed at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 at Atlanta. Contact them at atlanta.archives@nara.gov or 770-968-2100 for more information.
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National War Labor Board Records
General Correspondence, 1943-1945. Entry 203.
Central Files, 1943-1945. Entry 204.听
National Wage Stabilization Records
Meeting Minutes, 1946-1947. Entry 489.听
Records Relating to the Appointment of Arbitrators, 1946-1946. Entry 490.听
General Records, 1946-1947. Entry 491.听
Press Releases, 1946-1946. Entry 492.听
General Correspondence, 1944-1947. Entry 493.听
Records Relating to Form NWSB 9, 1946-1946. Entry 494.听
Materials for Distribution, 1942-1945.听
Region VI was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and had jurisdiction over labor disputes in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The Regional office was established as part of the Office for Emergency Management on November 22, 1942. On September 19, 1945, an Executive Order transferred the NWLB was transferred to the Department of Labor. Executive Order 9672 terminated the National War Labor Board and established the National Wage Stabilization Board (NWSB) on December 31, 1945. Chicago remained the headquarters of the National Wage Stabilization Board Region VI until it was terminated by Executive Order 9809 effective February 24, 1947.
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The records created by the National War Labor Board and the National Wage Stabilization Board are maintained separately, though there is some continuity between series created by these two authorities.
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Some records are stored off-site and must be requested and retrieved in advance.
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National War Labor Board and National Wage Stabilization Records
Enforcement Case Files, 1943-1947. Entry 173.
Index to Enforcement Case Files, 1943-1947. Entry 174.听
Indexes to Enforcement Case Files, 1943-1947. Entry 176.听
National War Labor Board Records
Dispute Case Files, 1942-1945. Entry 165.听
Indexes to Dispute Case Files, 1943-1945. Entry 166.听
Voluntary Wage and Salary Adjustment Case Files, 1942-1945. Entry 167.听
Historical and Policy Documentation Files, 1943-1945. Entry 177.听
Index to Occupational Wage-Rate Survey Reports, 1943-1945. Entry 178.听
General Correspondence, 1943-1945. Entry 205.听
Wage-Stabilization Inspection Reports, 1943-1945. Entry 207.听
Sixth Regional War Labor Board Manual, 1943-1943. Entry 208.听
Records Relating to Compliance Cases, 1944-1945. Entry 209.听
Records Relating to Strikes, 1944-1945. Entry 210.听
Case Analysis Memoranda, 1944-1945. Entry 211.听
Correspondence, 1943-1944. Entry 212.听
Job Description Manual, 1943-1944. Entry 214.听
National Wage Stabilization Records
Voluntary Wage and Salary Adjustment Case Files, 1945-1946. Entry 462.
Index to Voluntary Wage and Salary Adjustment Case Files, 1945-1946. Entry 463.
General Records, 1943-1946. Entry 495.
Reports, 1943-1947. Entry 496.
General Records, 1944-1946. Entry 497.
Records Relating to Enforcement Activities, 1944-1946. Entry 498.
Minutes, 1944-1946. Entry 499.
Correspondence, 1943-1947. Entry 500.
General Records of the Regional Board, 1943-1946. Entry 501.
Administrative Records [Agenda, Minutes, and Reports], 1943-1946. Entry 502.听
Records Relating to Organization and Policy, 1942-1946. Entry 503.
Activity Reports, 1944-1946. Entry 504.
Publicity Materials, 1943-1946. Entry 505.
General Correspondence, 1943-1946. Entry 506.
Records Relating to Wage Brackets, 1943-1946. Entry 507.
Records Relating to Notices of Wage or Salary Increases, 1946-1946. Entry 508.
Materials for Distribution, 1943-1945.
Daily Newspaper Printing and Publishing Commission Records
The Daily Newspaper Printing and Publishing Commission was preceded by an advisory panel that was created by order of the National War Labor Board on February 24, 1943, at the request of labor and industry representatives. The panel was at first established on an experimental basis for an initial period of 90 days to provide industry-wide treatment of wage cases and to obtain greater uniformity of treatment within the industry. Its jurisdiction included employees in the mechanical, maintenance, mailing, editorial, art, circulation (including newsboys), commercial, and kindred departments. During this experimental period the Panel reported to the National War Labor Board for final action all cases processed by it, both voluntary and dispute. At the expiration of the trial period the National Board extended the life of the panel indefinitely.
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On June 16, 1943, a directive order of the National War Labor Board empowered the panel to pass finally, subject to review by Region VI, on voluntary cases where its decisions were unanimous and where the proposed adjustments fell within the maladjustment formula. In all other cases, the panel's function was limited to making recommendations to the Region VI Board at Chicago.
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The panel was reconstituted a commission by order of the National War Labor Board on February 8, 1944, with final authority to act on all cases within its jurisdiction, subject to review by the National War Labor Board. Its membership comprised two representatives each for labor, industry, and the public, all appointed by the National War Labor Board. Management and labor representatives were chosen from nominees submitted by the corresponding representatives of the Board. The public members served as Chairman and Vice Chairman.
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After the termination of the National War Labor Board on December 31, 1945, the processing of voluntary wage cases for the newspaper industry was handled by the regional office of the National Wage Stabilization Board having jurisdiction over the establishment involved in each instance.
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Some of the records for the听 Daily Newspaper Printing and Publishing Commission Records are housed at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 at College Park. Contact them at archives2reference@nara.gov or (301) 837-2000 for more information.
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Minutes of Meeting, 1944-1945. Entry 206.
Dispute Case Files, 1942-1945. Entry 277.听
Voluntary Wage and Salary Adjustment Case Files, 1942-1945. Entry 278.听
Meat Packing Commission
The Meat Packing Commission was established on March 31, 1945, to carry out the terms of the Board's directive order of February 20, 1945, in the meat-packing cases involving the "Big Five" packers--Armour, Cudahy, Morrell, Swift, and Wilson. The Board directed the parties to bargain collectively for 60 days to eliminate wage-rate schedule to remain in effect for the duration of the contract. The Board stated further that a Commission would be appointed to settle any wage-rate inequality issues remaining after the collective bargaining and to approve wage agreements arrived at by the parties. Agreements were reached by the several parties in May and June 1945 and were the basis for the subsequent work of the Commission.听
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The jurisdiction of the Commission was extended in July to enable it to act on voluntary applications to extend the wage adjustments of the "Big Five" meat-packing agreements to companies that were not included in the agreements but had similar operations, and to employees who were no in the unions involved in the "Big Five" cases, but who did comparable work and whose working conditions and wage rates historically followed the same pattern.
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The Commission was composed of 10 members - 1 from each of the 5 major companies, 1 from each of the 3 national unions for the industry, and 2 representing the public. Its headquarters were in Chicago, the center of the meat-packing industry.
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The Executive order that terminated the War Labor Board made provision for the continuance of the Commission in order to complete the review of the internal wage structures of the five major companies. Although an agent of the National Wage Stabilization Board, its decisions were final and binding on the parties, without appeal to the Board. The Commission was terminated, with the National Wage Stabilization Board, in February 1947.
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Dispute Case Files, 1942-1946. Entry 277.
Voluntary Wage and Salary Adjustment Case Files, 1942-1946. Entry 278.
Historical and Policy Documentation Files, 1945-1946. Entry 369.
Records of Clark Kerr, 1945-1947.听Entry 370.
Records Relating to Geographic Differentials, 1944-1945. Entry 371.
Records Relating to Appeals Cases, 1943-1947. Entry 372.
Records Relating to the Occupational Wage-Rate Survey, 1943-1944. Entry 373.
Wage Data Cards and Reports, 1945-1945. Entry 374.
Rulings on Disputed Wage Adjustments, 1947-1947. Entry 375.
Indexes to Meat Packing Commission Rulings, 1945-1947. Entry 376.
Region XI听Records
Region XI was headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and had jurisdiction over labor disputes in Michigan. The Regional office was established as part of the Office for Emergency Management on January 21, 1943. On September 19, 1945, an Executive Order transferred the NWLB was transferred to the Department of Labor. Executive Order 9672 terminated the National War Labor Board and established the National Wage Stabilization Board (NWSB) on December 31, 1945. Detroit remained the headquarters of the National Wage Stabilization Board Region VI until it was terminated by Executive Order 9809 effective February 24, 1947.
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The records created by the National War Labor Board and the National Wage Stabilization Board are maintained separately, though there is some continuity between series created by these two authorities.
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Some records are stored off-site and must be requested and retrieved in advance.
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National War Labor Board Records
Dispute Case Files, 1942-1945. Entry 165.
Indexes to Dispute Case Files, 1943-1945. Entry 166.
Voluntary Wage and salary Adjustment Case Files, 1942-1945. Entry 167.
Enforcement Case Files, 1943-1947. Entry 173.
Indexes to Enforcement Case Files, 1943-1946. Entry 174.
Historical and Policy Documentation Files, 1943-1945. Entry 177.
Index to Occupational Wage-Rate Reports, 1943-1945. Entry 178.
Press Releases, 1942-1945. Entry 248.
Records Relating to Dispute Cases, 1943-1945. Entry 249.
Meeting Minutes, 1943-1945. Entry 250.
Manual of Operations, 1944-1945. Entry 251.
Form 10 Docket, 1945-1945. Entry 252.
General Records, 1944-1945. Entry 253.
General Correspondence, 1943-1944. Entry 254.
Records Relating to Wage Brackets, 1943-1945. Entry 255.
Records Relating to Occupational Wage-Rate Surveys, 1943-1945. Entry 256.
Indexes to Occupational Wage-Rate Surveys, 1943-1945. Entry 257.
Records Relating to Wages and Industry, 1943-1945. Entry 258.
Manual for the Screening Branch, 1945-1945. Entry 259.
Records of the Research Branch, 1943-1945. Entry 260.
Records of the Automotive Section, 1943-1945. Entry 261.
National Wage Stabilization Records
Voluntary Wage and Salary Adjustment Case Files, 1945-1946. Entry 462.
General Records, 1946-1946. Entry 523.
Minutes, 1946-1947. Entry 524.
Records Relating to Notices of Wage or Salary Increases, 1946-1946. Entry 525.
Materials for Distribution, 1943-1945.
Indexes to Voluntary Wage and Salary Adjustment Case Files, 1945-1946. Entry 463.
Detroit Tool and Die Commission
The Detroit Area Tool and Die Commission was established on December 11, 1942, by directive order of the Board to implement the directive orders of October 23 and December 11, 1942, which were designed to prevent soaring wage rates and labor pirating in the Detroit tool and die market. The Commission was empowered to make final rulings, subject to review by the National Board, on all pending and future disputes and on voluntary cases involving tool and die workers in the six-county Detroit area and was also given enforcement authority.听
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In the first few months of its existence the Commission was virtually autonomous. It reported its action on voluntary cases to the director of Region V at Cleveland, but was not under the supervision of that regional office. By February 1943, the National Board established Region XI, comprising the State of Michigan, with headquarters in Detroit. The Commission became, administratively at least, a division of the Region XI board, though it continued to act independently. Gradually, however, it was integrated with the regional board and on July 29, 1943, the National Board, acting on the joint recommendation of the regional board and the Commission, officially reconstituted the body as the Tool and Die Commission of Region XI. It also expanded its jurisdiction to include the entire state of Michigan. The rulings and decisions of the Commission were thereby made subject to regional board review, and enforcement cases within its jurisdiction were brought within the jurisdiction of the regional board's Enforcement Division.听
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At first the Chairman of the Commission was appointed by the National Board and he in turn chose labor and industry representatives, serving on an ad hoc basis, from a panel of names approved by the National Board. In this respect, it differed from the other commissions, since its labor and industry representatives were not full-time employees. After July 1943, however, the Chairman was appointed by the regional board and was assisted by labor and industry consultants who were chosen by the Chairman from a panel of names approved by the regional board.
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With the termination of the National War Labor Board the Commission went out of existence. Application for wage adjustments, formerly within its jurisdiction, were thereafter processed by Region XI of the National Wage Stabilization Board.
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Voluntary Wage and Salary Adjustment Case Files, 1942-1945. Entry 278.
Enforcement Case Files, 1943-1945. Entry 279.
Historical and Policy Documentation Files, 1943-1945. Entry 291.
General Records, 1943-1945. Entry 292.
General Correspondence, 1943-1945. Entry 293.
Outgoing Correspondence, 1942-1945. Entry 294.
Correspondence with Government Agencies, 1943-1943. Entry 295.
Minutes, 1944-1945. Entry 296.
Directives and Regulations, 1942-1943. Entry 297.
Reports, 1943-1944. Entry 298.
Records Relating to Wage Brackets, 1942-1945. Entry 299.
Inspection Reports, 1943-1945. Entry 300.
Records Relating to the Tool and Die Industry Conference, 1942-1942. Entry 301.
Records of Mildred F. Hazelton, 1944-1945. Entry 302.