With the need for naval welders growing dramatically during World War II, Usery enlisted in the United States Navy.

Usery helped write and implement Executive Order 11491 (October 29, 1969, which gave union organizing rights to two million federal government workers and established collective bargaining, grievance and dispute resolution procedures.

[2] The executive order had been long-sought by the American labor movement, and brought federal collective bargaining practices in line with those already in use in private industry.

In April 1969, Usery helped avert a nationwide strike by the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen through round-the-clock, non-stop negotiations.

The illegal strike by more than 210,000 United States Postal Service workers began on March 18, 1970, in New York City.

Nixon appeared on national television and ordered the employees back to work, but his address only stiffened the resolve of the existing strikers and angered workers in other 671 locations in other cities into walking out as well.

Workers in other government agencies also announced they would strike as well if Nixon pursued legal action against the postal employees.

The strike crippled the nation's mail system, disrupting delivery of pension and welfare checks, tax refunds, census forms, and draft notices.

[5] Although influential in the Nixon administration, Usery was unable to persuade the president to refrain from temporarily suspending the Davis-Bacon Act in 1971.

Within a year, the new committee had identified a number of wage increases it had deemed extravagant, and won renegotiation of the agreements.

On October 17, 1973, the AFL-CIO executive council unanimously asked Usery to become director of the federation's Department of Organization and Field Services.

[7] In this capacity, Usery advised the president on labor-management relations in the federal government and private sector, and became the presidential point-man in labor disputes which might have a significant impact on the national economy.

He continued as director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service until appointed by Ford to be Secretary of Labor in February 1976.

[8][9] On February 10, 1976, President Gerald Ford nominated Usery to be United States secretary of labor.

Incoming president Jimmy Carter declined to keep Usery on as secretary, installing F. Ray Marshall instead.

Usery assisted the UAW, GM and Toyota in crafting a contract which established a new, jointly-owned and -operated corporation, the New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI).

NUMMI implemented Toyota's "lean" production system in the U.S., but utilized a closed plant owned by GM.

The foundation assists and advises democratic unions and employers in Russia on how to improve and professionalize labor-management relations.

The investigative body, which included Usery as co-commissioner, made regulatory and legislative recommendations to resolve the retiree health benefit issue.

The center provides for the study of cooperative labor-management relations and serves as a resource for employers and workers seeking assistance in resolving disputes.