Final answer:
The major labor dispute following WWI was the Seattle General Strike of 1919, where 65,000 workers stopped work to demand better wages and conditions. The government's intervention typically favored management due to concerns of communism and business leaders' anti-union efforts, reflecting a complex relationship between labor, management, and government post-WWI.
Step-by-step explanation:
Major Labor Dispute After WWI
Following the end of World War I, a significant labor dispute was the Seattle General Strike of 1919. This massive strike included around 65,000 workers and is often remembered as a symbol of postwar labor unrest in the United States. It was a five-day work stoppage initiated by shipyard workers after the war ended, demanding higher wages and better conditions which they felt were overdue after their sacrifices during the war.
Employers were reluctant to meet these demands, fearing the rise of a labor movement similar to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. This labor dispute is a stark example of the contentious relationship between workers and management that became highly visible after the First World War.
The aftermath of the Seattle General Strike showed the government's readiness to intervene in labor disputes, often siding with management. This was in part due to fears of communism, but also a response to business leaders' efforts to prevent the spread of labor unions and to maintain control over the workplace.
The federal government had previously invited organized labor to the negotiating table during the war, and although the war's end reduced workers' leverage, the strike demonstrated the increased expectations of workers regarding their rights and working conditions.