Accepted Articles

Abstract: This paper will examine the effect of critical moments in the American history of unionization on today’s political and economic landscapes pertaining to labor unions; numerous acts, such as the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 have legitimized union activities. Upon examination, this paper will analyze how the modern political and economic landscapes regarding American labor unions impact the effectiveness of organizing; unethical employer tactics decrease the likelihood of success for unions. Lastly, this essay inspects the possible benefits of specific actions that could be taken to strengthen the labor movement. In 1935, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) was signed into law marking a significant moment in the history of American unions as workers’ right to unionize was legitimized. In 1947, a different shift in the landscape of unions occurred under the Taft-Hartley Act which restricted certain union activities in some states. 

In recent times, the economic and political landscapes pertaining to labor unions have been plagued by numerous factors creating an uphill battle for organizing workers. However, in 2021, the US House of Representatives passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, restricting the egregious methods commonly applied by employers to oppose unions. It was observed that attempts to unionize were generally met with employer retaliation. Varying unethical tactics were employed to dissuade workers from unionizing, such as holding mandatory anti-union meetings and excessive stalling. Such attempts were generally fruitful due to a paucity of sufficient punishment.

As unions are helpful in combating the mistreatment of workers and provide a stronger say for employees in voicing their needs, I believe there should be more legal repercussions for those who violate labor law.

Keywords: Labor unions, Labor law reform, Political landscape, Harvard Labor Reform Project’s proposal, Labor law policies

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