Changes

*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 (Landum-Griffin Act)

*a later amendment in 1959 prohibited "secondary boycotts," which were devastating "sympathy strikes" against additional companies to increase pressure on the target company (Landum-Griffin Act)

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 the 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.

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.

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.