Frequently Asked Questions

What were the key provisions of the National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act, of 1935?

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935, also known as the Wagner Act, was a significant piece of labor legislation during the 1930s. Sponsored by Senator Robert F. Wagner, the Act included a reenactment of the previously invalidated labor sections of the National Industry Recovery Act (NRA) and introduced several new provisions. The NLRA applied to all firms and employees involved in activities affecting interstate commerce, excluding agricultural laborers, government employees, and those subject to the Railway Labor Act. The Act guaranteed covered workers the right to organize and join labor movements, choose representatives, bargain collectively, and strike. It established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an independent Federal agency initially composed of three members appointed by the President. The NLRB was empowered to determine whether a union should be certified to represent specific groups of employees, using methods it deemed suitable, including holding a representation election among the concerned workers.