Discuss the Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 and the Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932.
Examine the three acts (which were passed over a period of almost 25 years and which constitute the US labor law foundation): (1) the Wagner Act, (2) the Taft-Hartley Act, and (3) the Landrum-Griffin Act.
Explain the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970.
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The Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 and the Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932:
The Railway Labor Act of 1926 was enacted to provide a framework for the resolution of labor disputes in the railway industry. It established a process for collective bargaining and mediation between labor and management, and provided for the creation of a neutral board to resolve disputes that could not be resolved through negotiation or mediation. The RLA also prohibited strikes and lockouts in the railway industry during the mediation and arbitration process.
The Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 was enacted to limit the use of injunctions in labor disputes. It prohibited federal courts from issuing injunctions against nonviolent labor disputes, except in cases of specific, enumerated offenses, such as violence, intimidation, or destruction of property. The act was seen as a victory for labor unions, which had frequently been subject to injunctions during strikes and other labor actions.
The Wagner Act, the Taft-Hartley Act, and the Landrum-Griffin Act:
The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, was passed in 1935 to protect the rights of workers to form and join unions and engage in collective bargaining with their employers. The act established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to enforce its provisions and investigate unfair labor practices. The Wagner Act also prohibited employers from interfering with the formation and operation of labor unions and from discriminating against workers who participated in union activities.
The Taft-Hartley Act, passed in 1947, amended the Wagner Act and placed restrictions on the activities of labor unions. It prohibited unions from engaging in secondary boycotts, closed shops, and other practices that were seen as unfair to employers. The act also required union leaders to take an oath of loyalty to the United States and established procedures for resolving labor disputes that threatened national security.
The Landrum-Griffin Act, passed in 1959, was designed to regulate the internal affairs of labor unions. The act required unions to file financial reports with the Department of Labor, established procedures for conducting union elections, and prohibited union officials from engaging in certain types of financial transactions with union funds. The act also established a bill of rights for union members and established procedures for the government to take over unions that were found to be corrupt or under the control of organized crime.
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970:
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 was passed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government’s personnel system. The act established a new system for hiring and promoting federal employees based on merit, and established procedures for dealing with employee grievances and disciplinary actions. The act also created the Senior Executive Service, a new classification of senior government officials who were subject to more rigorous performance standards.
The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 reorganized the United States Postal Service as an independent agency of the federal government. The act eliminated the Post Office Department, which had previously been responsible for the administration of the postal system, and established a Board of Governors to oversee the operations of the Postal Service. The act also established procedures for setting postal rates and providing employee benefits. The Postal Reorganization Act was intended to make the postal system more efficient and responsive to the needs of the public.
