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| | *unions must give 60 days notice before striking | | *unions must give 60 days notice before striking |
| | *the federal government could prohibit a strike for 80 days if it endangered national health or safety | | *the federal government could prohibit a strike for 80 days if it endangered national health or safety |
| − | *a later amendment in 1959 prohibited "secondary boycotts," which were devastating "sympathy strikes" against additional companies to increase pressure on target company | + | *a later amendment in 1959 prohibited "secondary boycotts," which were devastating "sympathy strikes" against additional companies to increase pressure on target company (Landum-Griffin Act) |
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| | For the purposes of this course, remember that the Taft-Hartley Act finally ended the unions' enormous power. And not a moment too soon, because there were many crippling strikes that badly hurt the country's economy in 1946 after the end of World War II. Ever since passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, Democrats have tried to repeal the Taft-Hartley Act, without success. It remains essential today to protect the right of workers not to join a union, and the Obama Administration and Democratic Congress may try to weaken it in 2009. | | For the purposes of this course, remember that the Taft-Hartley Act finally ended the unions' enormous power. And not a moment too soon, because there were many crippling strikes that badly hurt the country's economy in 1946 after the end of World War II. Ever since passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, Democrats have tried to repeal the Taft-Hartley Act, without success. It remains essential today to protect the right of workers not to join a union, and the Obama Administration and Democratic Congress may try to weaken it in 2009. |
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| − | Unions were weakened by the Taft-Hartley Act, but did not give up. In 1955, there was a massive merger of two large labor organizations into the AFL-CIO, and it remains a powerful part of the Democratic Party today. But in 1959 Congress acted further to curb union power by passing the Landum-Griffin Act, which requires democracy in electing union officials, prohibits secondary boycotts (which is a boycott of additional companies to support a strike against a primary company), and places restrictions on picketing. Unions remain powerful in the car industry in Michigan to this day.
| + | In 1955, two large labor organizations merged into the AFL-CIO, and it remains a powerful part of the Democratic Party today. But in 1959 Congress acted further to curb union power by passing the Landum-Griffin Act, which requires democracy in electing union officials, prohibits secondary boycotts (which is a boycott of additional companies to support a strike against a primary company), and places restrictions on picketing. Unions remain powerful, particularly in the car industry and among public school teachers. |
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| | '''Debate: Do you think union power should be strengthened or weakened by Congress today?''' | | '''Debate: Do you think union power should be strengthened or weakened by Congress today?''' |
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| − | Several years later, in 1952, another important act was passed over President Truman's veto: The McCarran-Walter Act. This act limited immigration and affirmed the national-origins quota system of 1924. Specifically, this Act limited immigration to one-sixth of one percent of the population of the continental United States in 1920. | + | Several years later, in 1952, another important law was enacted over President Truman's veto: The McCarran-Walter Act. This Act limited immigration to one-sixth of one percent of the population of the continental United States in 1920. This was similar to the national-origins quota system of 1924. |
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| − | The 80th Congress had economic achievements that continue to this day. It cut taxes, sparking an economic boom that would last through the 1950s. It balanced the federal budget for the first time in years. It also implemented the joint income tax return for married couples, which gives a financial benefit to a working man in sharing his income for tax purposes with a wife who is raising the children rather than earning an income. | + | The 80th Congress cut taxes, sparking an economic boom that would last through the 1950s. It balanced the federal budget for the first time in years. It also implemented the joint income tax return for married couples, which gives a financial benefit to a working man in sharing his income for tax purposes with a wife who is raising the children rather than earning an income. |
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| | The ultimate irony is that Truman ran for reelection in 1948 by campaigning against a "do nothing Congress." And Truman won in an upset! But by 1952, Truman was the most unpopular president in history, and was unelectable. | | The ultimate irony is that Truman ran for reelection in 1948 by campaigning against a "do nothing Congress." And Truman won in an upset! But by 1952, Truman was the most unpopular president in history, and was unelectable. |