• Congress has passed numerous laws to protect unions.union image by arabesque from Fotolia.com
  
  Since 1914 Congress has passed numerous laws to address labor unions. Most of these laws protect the right to assemble and strike. But others have been enacted to protect employers and non-union employees.
  
  

Clayton Antitrust Act

• The Clayton Antitrust Act was a major victory for labor unions.Monument aux morts, guerre 1914-1918 image by Bruno Bernier from Fotolia.com
  
  Passed in 1914, this legislation amended the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. It limited the use of the injunction against labor by employees, and it authorized labor to engage in peaceful strikes and boycotts. The Act stated that “the labor of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce.”
  
  

Railway Labor Act

• Employees of railroad companies are covered by the Railway Labor Act.Trains image by Lochinvar Sturdy from Fotolia.com
  
  Congress passed the Railway Labor Act in 1926 that mandated that employers engage in collective bargaining with unions. Initially the law covered interstate railroad, but its scope was broadened in 1936 to cover airlines that were used in interstate commerce.
  
  

Davis-Bacon Act

• The Davis-Bacon created minimum wage standards for government contract work.scaffolding workers image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  The Davis-Bacon Act created minimum wage standards for construction workers working under contract on Federal government projects.
  
  

Norris-LaGuardia Act

• Employers cannot pay more to workers who agree to not join a union.check in macro image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
  
  The Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 affirmed the right of workers to strike. It also prohibited discriminatory contracts in which workers agreed to higher wages in return for not joining a union. Also, the legislation prohibited Federal courts from authorizing injunctions against a variety of union behavior including organizing, striking, and providing legal assistance to union members.
  
  

National Labor Relations Act

• The NLRA governs business that crosses state lines.Truck,trucking image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) or Wagner Act was passed by Congress in 1935. The NLRA covered all organizations and employees engaged in business that had an effect on interstate commerce. The legislation exempted agricultural workers, government workers, and those who were covered by the Railway Labor Act.
  
  The NRLA established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to monitor relations between employers and unionized employees. The NLRB was authorized to decide if a particular union should be authorized to represent a specific group of workers.
  
  The NLRA prohibited a number of unfair practices. Employers and unions were barred from discriminating in favor of unionized or non-unionized employees. The legislation prohibited firing or discriminating against an employee who had given testimony or filed charges in accordance with the provisions of the NLRA. The bill required employers to engage in collective bargaining with the agents of the union.
  
  

Taft-Hartley Act

• The Taft-Hartley Act gave protection to non-union workers.capitol image by Andrew Breeden from Fotolia.com
  
  The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 substantially revised the NLRA. President Truman vetoed the bill because he viewed it as anti-labor. But after his veto Congress assembled a two-thirds majority to pass it.
  
  The Taft-Hartley Act reaffirmed the basic protections given in the NLRA, but added some new protections for both employers and employees. It protected workers' rights to choose their representatives, protected non-union workers from discrimination, and prohibited strikes designed to compel workers to join a union.