Which group had the authority to seize industries and force workers back to work to support war efforts?

The National War Labor Board held significant authority during World War II, particularly in relation to labor disputes and the war effort. Established in 1942, this board aimed to mediate conflicts between labor and management to ensure that wartime production would continue without disruption. One of its key powers included the ability to intervene in labor strikes or disputes that threatened the production of goods necessary for the war, allowing it to enforce policies that required workers to return to their jobs.

In addition to its mediation role, the board also established guidelines for labor conditions and wage increases to maintain stability in the workforce. The necessity for criticism, both from labor leaders hoping to protect worker rights and industries pushing for uninterrupted production, gave the board a vital role in maintaining wartime mobilization.

While the War Production Board was focused on coordinating war production, and the Office of Price Administration managed inflation and controlled prices, it was the National War Labor Board that specifically had the authority to address labor issues directly affecting the war effort. The Potsdam Conference, on the other hand, was an international meeting of Allied leaders discussing post-war arrangements and did not pertain to labor relations.