American Labor Relations act

The fundamental purpose of the Railway Labor act, the National Labor Relations act, and the various state labor relations acts, is to make the legal right of the workers to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing an effective right which employers are obligated to accord. The Railway Labor act led the way, followed by the National Labor Relations act, for industries affecting the flow of interstate commerce, and these were followed by the acts of five states for intrastate commerce. The employers must bargain collectively in good faith with representatives of the majority of their workers, and may not discharge or discriminate against a worker because of a membership or activity in a union. Nor may they dominate, interfere with, or finance, any labor organization. The workers are to be left free to choose their own representatives. The power given to the National Labor Relations Board to define the unite for collective bargaining has involved it in the contest between the C. I. O. and the A. F. of L. Although employers are required to bargain collectively if a majority of their workers demand it, they are not required to reach an agreement. In the railway act and in some of the state acts, provisions for mediation are strengthened. Various proposals are being advanced to broaden the acts by restraining the unions from alleged unfair labor practices, etc.