What was the government's role in the labor unions' fight to achieve workers' rights?

Answer 1

FDR's administration was beneficial for organized labor. FDR needed the support of labor, and labor needed the support of the national government. Francis Perkins, the first women cabinet member, was appointed as Secretary of Labor and she successfully promoted many elements that became part of the New Deal and helpful to labor. She and FDR urged the passage of the National Labor Relations (Wagner) Act which increased the rights of unions and created the National Labor Relations Board. The Taft-Hartley Labor Act was amended to enlarge the powers of the NLRB and allowed the government to intervene in strikes affecting the nation's safety or health. The NRA set minimum wages and maximum hours. It did away with child labor, something organized labor favored, and established the right of workers to organize. This allowed for collective bargaining. Secretary Perkins had the DOL draft a bill setting wage and hour standards that became effective even after the NRA was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed which set minimum wages and a maximum work week of 40 hours.

Organized labor grew, the CIO split from the AFL and many American workers joined unions and membership continued to increase during the Great Depression.

The government usually supported owners.