Taft-Hartley Act

The Taft-Hartley Act (officially known as the Labor Management Relations Act, but historically associated with its main drivers, Senator Robert Taft and Representative Fred Hartley) was passed in 1947 over the veto of President Harry Truman. It made major changes to labor law, restricting the power of unions.

During World War II, unions actively avoided pushing for strikes, in order to help the war effort. Once the war was over, they took the gloves off, leading to a wave of strikes over the next couple years.

This situation set the stage for Taft-Hartley. It outlawed several categories of strikes (like wildcat strikes and solidarity strikes). It also changed rules related to union membership. It outlawed closed shops, and states were allowed to pass right-to-work laws.

Think: Taft-Hartley as being the ultimate union-busting dynamic duo.