National Labor Relations Board
Purpose
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was enacted on July 5, 1935. The NLRB was part of the National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act (AllGov, National Labor Relations Board). Wagner Act encouraged the formation and organization of labor unions using the tactic of collective bargaining, which was a concept of peaceful negotiations between the employee and the employees (Abodeely, Compulsary Arbitration and the NRLB) However, the Wagner Act made the explicit statement that a worker may choose to join a labor union or choose to remain an individual within the work place. One of the largest parts of the Wagner Act was the formation of the NLRB, which was created in order to oversee the proceedings of the Wagner Act (Brinkley, Unfinished Nation). Some of the ways that the NLRB planned on administering the Wagner Act were ending controversies that were at a stalemate, facilitating democratic labor union elections, punishing the employers who were treating their employees unfairly, negotiate with employers, and performing investigations of accusations of unfair treatment (Our Documents, National Relations Act).
Impact
Women were one of the largest groups of people in America affected by the NLRB. Following the instigation of the NLRB, the number of women involved in labor unions tripled to 800,000 women (George Washington University, The National Labor Relations Act). The group of people that were least positively affected by the NLRB were businessmen. Suddenly, labor unions were backed and supported by the government, so businessmen and employers of companies feared the power of the labor unions. The NLRB was a very successful program. Labor unions grew and the NLRB and the Wagner Act were protected in the case of National Labor Relations Board vs. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. Although under the Taft-Hartley Labor Act, the NLRB was limited to being specifically a judicial power, unfair activity of labor unions had to be investigated as well, and reassurance was needed to prove that leaders of labor unions were not Communist, the board expanded from three people to five people. This gave the NLRB more of a voice. The NLRB was again upheld under the Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959. Although picketing was made illegal and states were able to resume cases dropped by the labor unions, union members no longer had to prove that they were not Communist and the NLRB was protected. The NLRB gave reassurance to many workers, and the influx of workers to unions was monumental (AllGov, National Labor Relations Board).
Reform
The NLRB was a reform because the functioning and the dependability of labor unions increased after the instigation of the NLRB. A new found confidence in labor unions and negotiations that were backed by a government program propelled many American workers into labor unions. The way that labor unions dealt with problems was reformed as well. Striking and picketing were no longer seen as reasonable ways to deal with unfair practices. Instead the board negotiated and encouraged labor unions to use collective bargaining, which was a peaceful alternative to striking and picketing. The NLRB was more of a liberal program because liberals during the 1930s were pro labor unions. The NLRB's job was to protect the labor unions. On the other hand, conservatives during the 1930s were pro business, so the conservatives feared the position of American business.
Works Cited
Abodeely, Paul A. Compulsory Arbitration and the NLRB; a Study of Congressional Intent and Administrative Policy. Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, Industrial Research Unit;, 1968. 9. Print.
Alan, Brinkley. "Knights of Labor." Fifth Edition The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History Of The American People. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008. 637. Print.
"AllGov - Departments." AllGov - Departments. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2015. <http://www.allgov.com/departments/independent-agencies/national-labor-relations-board?agencyid=7444>.
"National Labor Relations Act (1935)." Our Documents -. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=67>.
"National Labor Relations Act." National Labor Relations Act. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/glossary/national-labor-relations-act.cfm>.
Picture Bibliography
http://unionresourcecenter.com/wp/?p=3803#.VPUeflq4mqA
http://www.nlrb.gov/who-we-are/our-history/1937-act-held-constitutional
