World War II - Defense, 1936-1942

Minutes of AFL Executive Council endorsing statements re necessity to uphold labor standards in defense production, May 5-8, 1940; similar minutes, February 19, 1941; copy of letter "which was never sent" (pencil notation) from AFL President Green to President Roosevelt calling for labor participation in defense production plans, May 17, 1940; "Metal Trades Department, AF of L," report of national conference re apprenticeship training, calling for placement of unemployed skilled metalworkers as first priority, June 20, 1940, 3 pages; letter to Secretary of Labor Perkins outlining proposals for defense mobilization from AFL officials Frank Fenton and Robert Watt, August 15, 1940, 5 pages; "Monthly Survey of Business of the AFL," September- November 1940, with "Wage increases recently reported by Affiliated Unions"; report of national conference of Building and Construction Trades Department, noting number of skilled workers, satisfaction of military and other government agencies with building trades contribution to defense mobilization, January 7, 1941, 2 pages; nine page list of labor advisors on various government defense related agencies, pencil notation "7/30/41",; "Defense" statement from AFL Weekly News Service, May 29, 1941, 3 pages; "New Planning Board Named On Defense Production," from Congressional Daily, February 21, 1941; press release announcing Executive Order establishing National Defense Mediation Board, with list of membership, March 19, 1941, 3 pages; Labor's Monthly Survey, "Wage Policy In Defense" and "Labor Prepares for Great Defense Effort," April and May 1941, by AFL, with comparisons of productivity, wages, profits, and cost of living ("wages should not be tied to cost of living") between the two World Wars; memorandum to AFL President Green from AFL legislative representative W. C. Hushing re demand of Senate Special Sub-Committee on National Defense that Green appear to make statement on West Coast shipyard strike, May 23, 1941; letter from Green to AFL legislative representative Robert Watt re creation of AFL Committee for National Defense with list of membership and outline of problems for consideration, 7 pages; letter to AFL Vice-President Matthew Woll, as Chairman of the Defense Committee, from Committee Assistant Secretary Florence Thorne re discussion agenda with President Green, July 17, 1941;