Chapter 7
World War II and the Post-War Struggles 1941 – 1952
Chapter 7 tells the story of a generation of Ironworkers who answered the call during one of the most challenging and consequential periods in world history. As World War II transformed North America, Ironworkers became essential to the war effort, constructing shipyards, military facilities, factories, power projects, and critical infrastructure needed to support victory overseas. Thousands of union members served in the Armed Forces, while countless others worked long hours at home to build the bridges, plants, and production facilities that helped make the Allied victory possible. Their dedication demonstrated that Ironworkers were not only builders of structures, but builders of a nation’s strength and security.
The years that followed brought new challenges. As soldiers returned home and wartime production slowed, Ironworkers faced layoffs, jurisdictional disputes, and political attacks on organized labor. Yet the union remained steadfast in defending workers’ rights, advancing apprenticeship and training programs, improving jobsite safety, and fighting legislation that threatened collective bargaining. Through determined leadership and the solidarity of its membership, the organization successfully adapted to a rapidly changing economy while continuing to protect the livelihoods of working families across the United States and Canada.
This chapter is ultimately a testament to resilience, service, and brotherhood. The sacrifices made during the war years, and the struggles endured afterward helped shape the modern Iron Workers Union. From the factories and shipyards that powered the war effort to the landmark construction projects of the postwar era, Ironworkers proved their value to society through skill, courage, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The achievements of this generation laid the foundation for the unprecedented growth that would follow and reinforced a tradition of strength and solidarity that continues to define Ironworkers today.
Book Recommendations:
| Author(s) | Title |
| Lewis Hine | Men at Work |
| David M. Kennedy | Freedom From Fear |
| Doris Kearns Goodwin | No Ordinary Time |
| A.J. Baime | Arsenal of Democracy |
| Arthur Herman | Freedom’s Forge |
| William Thiesen | The Launching of Modern American Shipbuilding |
| Greg H. Williams | Builders of Victory |
| Boyer & Morais | Labor’s Untold Story |
| Melvyn Dubofsky | Labor in America |
| Irving Bernstein | The Turbulent Years |
| Robert H. Zieger | The Taft-Hartley Act and American Labor |
| Tom Brokaw | The Greatest Generation |
| Citizen Soldiers | Stephen Ambrose |
Historical Sites:
United Nations Headquarters
New York City
Constructed: 1947-1952
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=United+Nations+Headquarters+New+York
Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia
Constructed: 1941-1943
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=The+Pentagon
Kaiser Shipyards
Richmond, California
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Rosie+the+Riveter+National+Historical+Park
Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Sites
Baltimore, Maryland
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Sparrows+Point+Maryland
Hanford Site
Washington
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Hanford+Site+Washington
Oak Ridge
Tennessee
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Oak+Ridge+Tennessee
Grand Coulee Dam
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Grand+Coulee+Dam
Bonneville Dam
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Bonneville+Dam
Walter Reuther Library
Detroit
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Walter+Reuther+Library
Burrard Dry Dock
North Vancouver, BC
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Burrard+Dry+Dock+North+Vancouver
Halifax Shipyards
Nova Scotia
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Halifax+Shipyard
Jacques Cartier Bridge
Montreal
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Jacques+Cartier+Bridge
Victory Square
Vancouver
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Victory+Square+Vancouver
Canadian War Museum
Ottawa
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Canadian+War+Museum
Ford Strike Sites
Dearborn, Michigan
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Ford+Rouge+Complex
Oakland General Strike (1946)
Oakland, California
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Oakland+City+Hall
Packinghouse Workers Movement
Chicago
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=Back+of+the+Yards+Chicago
Taft-Hartley Protest Locations
Washington, DC
Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=US+Capitol
Pearl Harbor
Oahu, Hawaii
Video Resources:
| Title | Full Link |
| The Impossible Cleanup That Followed The End Of WW2 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoA3YzkmyQ8 |
| Rebuilding Japan after World War II | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfdXKuOPd14 |
Smashing the Tower The 1946 Oakland General Strike | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CHAeeCYapc |
74th Anniversary Of Oakland General Strike | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sgol3yz3rw |
Oakland General Strike 1946 (part 1) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfUmIeCTJTA |
| Oakland General Strike 1946 (part 2) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-yFDzKzLfE |
Unionization at Ford in 1930s and early 1940s | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrw_WRhUfog |
Ford Strike, Walkout April, 1941 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLN1svpbPBA |
CLEARING THE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS BUILDING NEW YORK CITY | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68lfjCORClA |
New York New UN Building (1949) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s0Q-adPDwA |
How The U.S Constructed The World’s Largest Office Building In Just 16 Months | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CradYMXA2hc |
| The Pentagon: America’s Command Center | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As8LV6A7Pps |
The Union Stockyards | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gXCoxx7oAI |
City on the Make Impact of the Stockyards and Meatpacking Industries | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bTmWjqHkvw |
Dry Dock 6 Construction Puget Sound Naval Shipyard | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umse02_XBg4 |
THE KAISER RICHMOND SHIPYARD — They Built 747 Ships for America | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LNvYOjKqc8 |
Pearl Harbor: When Japan Woke The Sleeping Giant | Pearl Harbor: When Japan Woke The Sleeping Giant |
World War II: Attack on Pearl Harbor | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn3IDjSmZio |
Original Rosie the Riveter on WWII and Women’s Rights | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPCaYufty-U |
Rosie the Riveter Historical Documentary | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SwYfz35ElA |
Was Rosie the Riveter a Real Person? | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUXazz8HRds |
What U.S. Occupation Did to Hawai’i | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO83K8s8dnk&list=PLrRiBVo0E4Jr85p6Df2QxT-7UjNSNQXzH&index=23 |
