What is the Wagner Act?

The Wagner Act, sometimes known as the National Labor Relations Act, is a piece of federal labor law passed in 1935 that guarantees the rights of workers to organize unions, bargain collectively, and engage in other kinds of concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining. This law was a major win for workers, as it gave them the right to strike and to negotiate with employers for better wages and improved working conditions. The Wagner Act also established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to oversee labor-management relations. The Wagner Act specifically guarantees the right of workers to form, join, or assist labor organizations as well as the rights of labor organizations to bargain collectively. It also forbids employers from discriminating against employees who join unions or engage in other protected activities. It also prohibits employers from interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of their rights. The Wagner Act applies to most employers in the private sector nationwide, but does not cover agricultural laborers. In Massachusetts, the commonwealth has enacted its own labor laws, such as the Massachusetts Arbitration Act, which protect union activities. These laws are separate from and in addition to the federal protection provided by the Wagner Act.

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