Briefly trace the history of labor law in the United States. In your discussion, identify four major federal labor laws and their purposes

Answer 1

Traditionally, labor law opposed concerted activities by workers to obtain higher wages and better working conditions. Congress enacted the Norris-LaGuardia Act in 1932 in response to growing criticism of the use of injunctions in peaceful labor disputes. The act took away the power of federal courts to issue injunctions in nonviolent labor disputes and declared it to be U.S. policy that labor was to have full freedom to form unions without employer interference. In 1935, Congress enacted the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) or the Wagner Act, giving employees the right to union representation when negotiating employment terms. The NLRA also set forth certain activities as unfair labor practices. Following passage of the NLRA, the country underwent a great increase in union membership and labor unrest. In response, in 1947 Congress enacted the Labor-Management Relations Act (LMRA) or Taft-Hartley Act. The act set forth unfair union practices, divided the prosecutorial and adjudicative functions of the NLRB, and prohibited the closed shop. The LMRA also reinstated the availability of civil injunctions in labor disputes. The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, or Landrum-Griffin Act, is aimed at eliminating corruption in labor unions by setting up an elaborate reporting system and setting forth a union "bill of rights" to make unions more democratic.