Trade Unions - New Deal

Question 1

What was the 1933 National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)?

Answer 1

-Attempted to improve pay + conditions
-Ruled as unconstitutional in 1935

Question 2

What was the 1935 Wagner Act?

Answer 2

A law that made legal recognition of TUS + ability to improve mediation

Question 3

What was the 1938 Fair Labour Standards Act?

Answer 3

A law that introduced the minimum wage and improved working hours

Question 4

How did the 1933 NIRA, 1935 Wagner Act and 1938 Fair Labour Standards Acts improve workers rights overall during the New Deal?

Answer 4

-Gave workers far more rights, and employers were no longer the focus
-Huge increase in union memberships, with union membership reaching 6.1 million by 1938

Question 5

What issues did Trade Unions still face in the New Deal era?

Answer 5

-Employers continuing to ignore unions
-Spies paid to join and destroy unions
-Private security such as the Pinkertons shutting down striking workers with lethal force
-Laws weakly enforced - Investigations slow
-Discrimination (mainly in the AFL)