Employement Law

The Railway Labor Act

After several years of striking railroad workers and violence again railroad worker President Coolidge recommended legislation. Railroad companies and Unions came together to draft legislation to promote arbitration and mediation instead of striking. The purpose of the United States federal law the Railway Labor Act of 1926 was to substitute strikes with mediation and arbitration in an effort to stop disruption of interstate commerce that are essential to the transportation services. (Pennsylvania Federation, 2013) Part of the Railway Labor Act was for all the carriers and the employees to settle all disputes voluntarily. Carries include railroads, airlines and any that can directly or indirectly who can affect the transportation or freight on railways or airlines. (Pennsylvania Federation, 2013) The Railway Labor Act is the first law that guarantees the right of railway or airline workers to join or organize unions.

The Railway Labor Act has five basic resolves to make sure that the railway and airlines transportation had fewer disruptions. The main purpose was to avoid any type of interruption to interstate travel through railways and airlines. The Railway Labor Act also assures the right for railway and airline employees to join labor unions. This was added to the act in 1934. (Pennsylvania Federation, 2013) The RLA will assist with disputes in order to make the resolution between parties prompt and orderly. Disputes include work rules, work conditions and rate of pay. There are two types of disputes. These are major and minor disputes. The employees must use any means possible short of striking to resolve minor disputes. (Pennsylvania Federation, 2013) Only after all other efforts are exhausted is self-help permitted. Major disputes include rate of pay, work rules and working conditions. Minor disputes include grievances growing out of the interpretation or application of collective bargaining agreements. (Pennsylvania Federation, 2013)

The Norris-La Guardia Act

In 1932, Senator George Norris and Representative Fiorello La Guardia were the main sponsors of the Norris-La Guardia Act. In this act there are three main provisions. The main provision was to outlaw the yellow-dog contracts. ("Norris-laguardia act of 1932," 2008) The yellow-dog contracts are contracts that employers would have employee signs when they were hired stating that the employees would not join labor unions or to renounce membership if they already belonged to one. The second provisions are to restrict federal court injunctions against non-violent labor disputes and strikes. This act was one of the first laws that supported labor unions. This was due to government repression of labor unions. ("Norris-laguardia act of 1932," 2008) The third provision was allowing workers to join labor unions. The reason for the act was to remove judicial and legal barriers from organized labor unions and remove the power of the federal court to limit union activity such as strikes, picketing and boycotting. "The Norris-LaGuardia Act marked a profound change in U.S. government oversight over labor relations. It was the most favorable legislation to date for a U.S. labor movement that had always had to fight for its very existence." ("Norris-laguardia act of 1932," 2008)

The Wagner Act

The National Labor Relations Act of the Wagner Act was created by congress in 1935. ("The 1935 passage," 2013)The law was created to protect the rights of workers to form a union or unionize. ("The 1935 passage," 2013) The National Labor Relations Board was established to make sure that labor unions do not interfere with the rights of the employees to form a union