The Wagner Act was set up by the federal government in 1935 as a regulator, as well as the final arbitrator of labor relations in the United States. It was sponsored by Robert Wagner, a Democrat Senator of New York. When it was constituted, it established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), with the power to safeguard the rights of most workers. In this regard, workers were in a position of organizing their own unions thereby having the power of collective bargaining. Additionally, the Act disallowed employers from getting involved in unfair labor practices like discriminating or firing workers involved in the unions. .
History of the Wagner Act.
Following the New Deal, the Franklin Roosevelt, the President of the United States, together with his Labor Secretary, Frances Perkins, were instrumental in leading a progressive middle course when it came to labor relations. As a matter of fact, they were of the view that if proper laws as well as policies were established, coupled with improved labor conditions and better wages, workers would not be in need of unions (Bain, 2011). However, in spite of the fact that the NIRA included provisions that guaranteed workers the right to collectively bargain, the strikes were regularly broken by the factory owners. As a matter of fact, they set up alternate 'company unions' that they could control at whim. .
It is for these reasons that Robert F. Wagner, a well respected state legislator known for opposing corruption as well as fighting for social legislation came up with the Wagner Act, in order to assist his low-income constituents (French, 2006). Due to his belief in the New Deal in the provision of economic security to low-income members of the American populace, he was a dynamic supporter of public housing, unemployment insurance, public works program, as well as the Social Security Act (Bain, 2011). Wagner was an avid supporter of social justice, having the full conviction that the American economy could only realize its full potential if mass purchasing power is guaranteed by government spending as well as full protection of the rights of workers.
The Wagner act granted the right to form unions. These problems didn't cease even when the act was passed. In 1935 H.L. ... Somehow, the Wagner act gave cotton pickers enough confidence to form strikes. ... Unfortunately, in the winter of 1935 over 100 union members were fired and others were killed and terrorized. ...
The Social Security Act of 1935 would come to embody social welfare as it "established a nationwide system of old-age insurance.... " (Link 301) The first New Deal's National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) was renewed in 1935 albeit with pressure by Roosevelt, but it was deemed unconstitutional shortly thereafter due to its code system. Concurrently, the Wagner Act was passed as and it would serve as an NIRA type replacement with the establishment of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which "reaffirmed the principles set forth in the now defunct Section 7a of t...
Wagner and Edward Costigan agreed to draft a bill that would punish the crime of lynching. In 1935 attempts were made to persuade Roosevelt to support the Costigan-Wagner bill. ... The Costian-Wagner Act received support from many members of Congress but the Southern opposition managed to defeat it. ... Even after the passing of the Civil Rights Act (1964) lynchings continued in the Deep South. (The 1964 Civil Rights Act made racial discrimination in public places, such as theaters, restaurants and hotels, illegal. ...
The main cause was the person in control of the National Recovery Act. ... Because these confrontations and Johnson's conflicts with Robert Wagner, Roosevelt tried to save the NRA's reputation by influencing Johnson to resign. ... On May 6, 1935 the Supreme Court, by a 5-4 decision, declared the Railroad Retirement Act, which was one of the NRA's programs, unconstitutional. ... The Court stated two main points against the National Recovery Act. ... The Supreme Court had never used the delegation doctrine until the "hot oil " case in 1935. ...
The most important act was the establishment of the National Industrial Recovery Act in May 1933. ... The New Deal soon created the National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act (Gordon 338). ... The Wagner Act had given workers a firmer foundation on which to stand. ... Throughout 1934 and 1935, labor standards became the focal point for many industry leaders. ... The National Industrial Recovery Act, followed by the Wagner Act, gave workers the right to form unions. ...
In order to understand the Taft-Hartley Act, one must first be familiar with the Wagner Act of 1935. The Wagner Act was, at the time of its passage, the most important labor law American had ever passed. ... Set on undoing much of the progressive legislation made during the New deal period the Wagner Act was among its primary targets. ... While the Wagner Act was called "The Laborers Bill of Rights," Taft-Hartley was dubbed "the Slave Labor" bill. ... Nader, unions can not be fully successful until the act is repealed. ...
In 1898 a portion of the Erdman Act, which would have made it a criminal offense for railroads to dismiss employees or discriminate against prospective employees based on their union activities, was declared invalid by the United States Supreme Court (Lutins). The Sherman Anti-Trust Act had been passed in 1890, but was used to prosecute unions rather than trusts as it was intended (Lutins). ... However, the United States Supreme Court would not even recognize the right to form a union until the Wagner Act in 1935. ...
The last example is the establishment of labor unions.By 1920 the Filipinos and Japanese workers combined their efforts after realizing how important it was to create an interethnic organization.In doing so they created a strike that lasted for 298 days but the legal barrier stood until 1935 when U.S. Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act .This act helped to take down the legal barrier and the law gave workers the right of collective bargaining/negotiating with management over wages, other matters, and forbade employers to interfere with union organizational activity. However in 194...
The main piece of legislation to assist farmers was through The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA). ... The second New Deal legislation was enacted in 1935. ... Long term reform measures for social security act in 1935 influenced by Charles Thomson plan. ... In addition was the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), also known as the Wagner Act which established the National Labor Relations Board. The act, sponsored by Robert Wagner, gave NLRA workers the legal right to organize and collectively bargain with industry leaders for better pay benefits and working conditions. ...
