The Taft-Hartley Act, a significant piece of United States labor legislation, amended the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. Passed in 1947, it aimed to curb the power of labor unions. Key provisions included outlawing closed shops, permitting states to enact right-to-work laws (which prohibit union shops), and requiring union leaders to sign affidavits stating they were not members of the Communist Party. Furthermore, the Act gave the President the power to intervene in strikes that threatened national health or safety.
This legislative action is historically relevant due to its impact on the balance of power between labor and management. It reflected a post-World War II concern over perceived excessive union power and a desire to protect individual workers’ rights. Its passage triggered considerable debate, with labor leaders vehemently opposing it and arguing that it undermined collective bargaining.
