Organized Labor After the Freeze

Archive Report

Labor Discontent and the 1972 Election

Reactions of Unions to Wage Freeze and Phase II

Organized labor's agreement to cooperate with the Nixon administration's economic control program defused, at least for the time being, a potentially explosive confrontation between the unions and the Republican Party in the 1972 presidential election. Most labor leaders were quick to denounce the 90-day wage freeze announced by President Nixon on Aug. 15, and their initial reaction to Phase II of the New Economic Policy was equally negative. However, AFL-CIO President George Meany said on Oct. 12 that labor would serve on the tripartite Pay Board that will monitor wage increases during Phase II.

Meany's announcement came after he met with Labor Secretary James D. Hodgson and Director George P. Shultz of ...

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