Adamson Act facts for kids
.svg) |
|
| Long title | An Act to establish an eight-hour day for employees of carriers engaged in interstate and foreign commerce, and for other purposes. |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Eight-Hour Workday Act |
| Enacted by | the 64th United States Congress |
| Effective | September 3, 5, 1916 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | Pub.L. 64-252 |
| Statutes at Large | 39 Stat. 721 |
| Legislative history | |
|
|
The Adamson Act was an important U.S. federal law passed in 1916. It created an eight-hour workday for most railroad workers. This meant they would get extra pay if they worked longer than eight hours. The law was a big step for workers' rights in the United States.
Why the Adamson Act Was Created
The Adamson Act was named after William C. Adamson, a representative from Georgia. This law was the first federal rule that set working hours for employees in private companies.
Before the Act was passed, railroad workers were thinking about going on a nationwide strike. A strike is when workers stop working to demand better conditions or pay. To prevent this big strike, the U.S. Congress quickly passed the Adamson Act.
The rules in the Act were worked out by leaders from four major railroad worker unions. These unions represented engineers, firemen, brakemen, and conductors. Their main goal was to get an eight-hour workday.
The Law and the Supreme Court
After the Act became law, some railroad companies did not want to follow it. They challenged the law in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. and decides if laws are constitutional.
In 1917, the Supreme Court decided that the Adamson Act was constitutional. This meant the law was valid and had to be followed. Once the Court made its decision, the railroad companies agreed to start following the law.
The success of the Adamson Act encouraged other railway workers to ask for similar benefits. Later, in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson took control of the railroads for a while. This happened to prevent more strikes and keep the country's transportation running smoothly during a time of war.
What the Act Said
The Adamson Act set an eight-hour workday for most railroad employees. If workers had to work longer than eight hours, they would receive extra pay for that overtime. The law also included penalties for companies that did not follow these rules.
For example, a company breaking the law could be fined between $100 and $1,000. People responsible could also face up to one year in prison, or both a fine and prison time.
The original Adamson Act was later changed and updated in 1996. Its main ideas about the eight-hour workday for railroad workers are still part of U.S. law today.
