The Wagner Act Essay

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In 1934, the Wagner Act was first introduced, also called the National Labor Relations Act (NLRB), it promised "to ensure a wise distribution of wealth between management and labor, to maintain a full flow of purchasing power, and to prevent recurrent depressions." (Babson, p. 85) During the mid-1930's organized labor and the United States Government struck a deal. It was the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt. A volatile time, the country was attempting to recover from a depression, unemployment was at an all-time high and organized labor was struggling for its own existence. "Vast numbers of the unemployed are right on the edge," observed Lorent Hickock, a Pennsylvania reporter hired by the federal government to report on social …show more content…
The opportunity to establish solidarity amongst working class Americans was favorable as workers wanted and needed change. Individuals were tired of the relentless government and corporate intervention in many of the ongoing protests concerning unemployment and other issues. Many times when the public protests intensified, either company guards or government troops would quell the masses with violence which often led to bloodshed. The demonstrations continued however, and they kept getting larger and larger. Government officials were stunned by the turnout; thirty-five thousand in New York City, fifty thousand in Chicago, and tens of thousands more in cities across American. The working class, during the 1930's, turned to support Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and the Democratic Party programs which were intended to help the individual worker. FDR had promised change at his inauguration. "This nation asks for action, and action now, we must act and act quickly." FDR proposed to implement the "New Deal", which would provide direct relief to workers by providing them with immediate work opportunities through the influx of substantial capital to create government projects. Workers supported FDR and saw immediate hope with the implementation of the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), including section 7A which stated that "…..employees shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own
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