1930s

• Norris-La Guardia Act in 1932 outlawed yellow dog contracts and stripped federal courts of jurisdiction to ban peaceful self-help and labour strikes.
• The Railway Labour Act in 1934 allowed BSCP to claim the right to be the porters representative.
• By 1936, the BSCP had enrolled 51% of all porters.
• By winter 1932-33, unemployment was at 25%.
• In 1930, hundreds Of thousands unemployed workers marched through large cities, this was organised by the Communist Party‘s Unemployed Councils.
• In 1931, there were more than 400 relief protests in Chicago.
• In 1932, there were 550 relief protests in Chicago.
• National Industrial Recovery Act 1933

  • More allowance of unions and collective bargaining
  • Encouraged firms to agree to codes of practice - hours, wages etc

  However, not all signed (eg Ford) and the supreme court ruled it as unconstitutional.
• National Labour Relations Act 1995

  • Also known as Wagner Act
  • NationaL Labour Relations Board established
  • Workers could elect representatives for collective bargaining
  • Declared constitutional
  • Use of spies banned
  • Role of unions recognised
• National Labour Relations Board (NLRB)

  • Negotiated on behalf of workers
  • Stopped companies from using own unions
  • Looked into accusations of unfair working
• Wagner Act led to union membership increasing from 3.7 mil in 1933 to 9 mil in 1938.
• Fair Labour Standards Act 1938

  • Set maximum work week of 48 hours
  • Minimum wage of 25 cents a hour
  • Child labour barred
• NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corps was when the board took legal action when the company refused to comply to rehire and pay workers that were fired for union activities. Supreme Court upheld the federal labour law.