Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 facts for kids
The Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, often called the Taft–Hartley Act, is a U.S. federal law. It was created to set rules for labor unions and their activities. This law aimed to balance the power between companies and unions.
The act was sponsored by Senator Robert A. Taft and Representative Fred A. Hartley, Jr.. It became law on June 23, 1947, even though U.S. President Harry S. Truman tried to stop it with a veto.
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What is the Taft–Hartley Act?
The Taft–Hartley Act is a law that is still in effect today. It changed an older law called the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which was passed in 1935. The NLRA, also known as the Wagner Act, had given more power to labor unions. The Taft–Hartley Act aimed to reduce some of that power.
Why Was This Law Created?
After World War II, there were many large strikes across the United States. Some people felt that labor unions had become too powerful. They believed that new rules were needed to prevent strikes that could harm the economy or public safety. The Taft–Hartley Act was passed to address these concerns.
What Did the Law Change?
The Taft–Hartley Act made several important changes to how unions could operate:
- It banned certain types of strikes, like those that supported another union's strike (called "secondary boycotts").
- It required union leaders to sign statements saying they were not members of the Communist Party.
- It allowed states to pass "right-to-work" laws. These laws make it illegal to require workers to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of getting or keeping a job.
- It gave the U.S. President the power to get a court order to stop a strike for 80 days if it threatened national health or safety.
How Was the Law Received?
Not everyone agreed with the new law. Labor leaders strongly opposed it. They called it the "slave-labor bill" because they felt it took away important rights from workers and unions.
President Truman also disagreed with the law. He argued that it was a "dangerous intrusion on free speech." He believed it would "conflict with important principles of our democratic society" by limiting the ability of workers to organize and speak up for their rights. Despite these objections, Congress had enough votes to pass the law over Truman's veto.
