Final answer:
Labor unions went on strike due to inadequate wages and poor working conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Labor unions have historically organized strikes to fight for better wages, working conditions, and protections for workers, particularly during the industrial revolution. Early labor unions faced challenges such as American Exceptionalism, which posited that the U.S. would counter the socialist trends in Europe by emphasizing free enterprise and individualism over collective bargaining.
However, inequalities during the industrial revolution demanded collective action.
The government and business owners initially responded with hostility to strikes. During World War I, the government imposed restrictions on striking to maintain wartime production, but after the war, massive strikes like the 1919 steelworker strike occurred, and were often met with legal and physical force. The interwar period saw a shift as New Deal policies legalized union activities and set structures for collective bargaining.
Post World War II demonstrated a peak in union influence, with widespread strikes leading to government interventions, such as President Truman's efforts to draft striking workers into the military to maintain national security. However, the end of price controls led to frustration as wages did not keep up with price increases, prompting further strikes.
In evaluating which side was justified, it's important to examine the context of each strike. Labor rights, decent living wages, and safe working conditions are essential. Still, the method of achieving these should balance the interests of both workers and the continuity of essential services and national security.