Final answer:
During WWI, the U.S. government cooperated with labor organizations to prevent strikes and maintain production, instituting worker protections and negotiating with unions, which led to increased union membership despite inflation offsetting wage gains.
Step-by-step explanation:
During World War I, the government's treatment of labor could be best described as cooperative and interventionist, as it sought to ensure a stable workforce to support the war effort. The creation of the National Labor War Board (NLWB) in April 1918 allowed the government to negotiate with labor leaders such as Samuel Gompers and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). This resulted in a "no-strike pledge" in exchange for the protection of workers' rights to organize, bargain collectively, and achieve better working conditions, an eight-hour workday, and a living wage.
The government's wartime policies led to a dramatic increase in union membership, from 2.6 million in 1916 to 4.1 million in 1919. However, despite the economic gains and the promises made, inflation eroded much of the wage increase, reducing individual purchasing power. Notably, after the war, the power dynamics shifted with many strikes occurring and the government adopting a more conservative stance.