Labor During the New Deal

Unemployment Relief Upon taking the oath of office, Franklin Roosevelt was faced with the mounting challenge of unemployment. At the beginning of 1933, over 12 million Americans lacked jobs. Unemployment relief became a vital part of “New Deal” legislation.

National Industrial Recovery Act The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) of June 16, 1933 was a set of United States federal laws and codes that authorized the President to: The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) of June 16, 1933 was a set of United States federal laws and codes that authorized the President to: regulate businesses in the interests of promoting "fair" competition regulate businesses in the interests of promoting "fair" competition supporting prices and wages supporting prices and wages creating jobs for unemployed workers creating jobs for unemployed workers stimulating the United States economy to recover from the Great Depression stimulating the United States economy to recover from the Great Depression The law created a National Recovery Administration (NRA), an executive agency exercising powers which Congress had delegated to it, to promote compliance on the part of corporations. The law created a National Recovery Administration (NRA), an executive agency exercising powers which Congress had delegated to it, to promote compliance on the part of corporations. Firms which voluntarily complied could display the Blue Eagle. Firms which voluntarily complied could display the Blue Eagle.

Public Works Administration The Public Works Administration of 1933 was a part of the first New Deal The Public Works Administration of 1933 was a part of the first New Deal It was an agency that made contracts with private firms for construction of public works. It was an agency that made contracts with private firms for construction of public works. Created by the National Industrial Recovery Act Created by the National Industrial Recovery Act Allotted 3.3 billion dollars to be spent on the construction of public works as a means of: Allotted 3.3 billion dollars to be spent on the construction of public works as a means of: providing employment providing employment stabilizing purchasing power stabilizing purchasing power improving public welfare improving public welfare contributing to a revival of American industry. contributing to a revival of American industry.

"The Search for Social Justice" Father Charles Coughlin was politically radical, a passionate democrat, but also a bigot who freely vented angry, irrational charges and assertions. Father Charles Coughlin was politically radical, a passionate democrat, but also a bigot who freely vented angry, irrational charges and assertions. A Catholic priest, he broadcast weekly radio sermons that by 1930 drew as many as forty- five million listeners. A Catholic priest, he broadcast weekly radio sermons that by 1930 drew as many as forty- five million listeners. By the mid-1930s, his talks took on a nasty edge as he combined harsh attacks on Roosevelt as the tool of international Jewish bankers with praise for the fascist leaders Benito Mussolini and Adolph Hitler. By the mid-1930s, his talks took on a nasty edge as he combined harsh attacks on Roosevelt as the tool of international Jewish bankers with praise for the fascist leaders Benito Mussolini and Adolph Hitler. He began as an early Roosevelt supporter, coining a famous expression, that the nation's choice was between "Roosevelt or ruin." He began as an early Roosevelt supporter, coining a famous expression, that the nation's choice was between "Roosevelt or ruin." Later in the 1930s he turned against FDR and became one of the president's harshest critics. Later in the 1930s he turned against FDR and became one of the president's harshest critics. His program of "social justice" was a very radical challenge to unbridled capitalism and to many of the political institutions of his day. His program of "social justice" was a very radical challenge to unbridled capitalism and to many of the political institutions of his day.

American Federation of Labor Founded in 1886, the American Federation of Labor was, for the first half of the 20th century, the largest union grouping operation in the United States.

National Labor Relations Act Enacted into law on July 5, 1935, the National Labor Relations or Wagner Act was the single most important piece of labor legislation in the United States during the 20th century. Enacted into law on July 5, 1935, the National Labor Relations or Wagner Act was the single most important piece of labor legislation in the United States during the 20th century. The act was designed to remove management interference in unions and permit free & collective bargaining. The act was designed to remove management interference in unions and permit free & collective bargaining. Established a federal agency, the National Labor Relations Board, with the power to investigate and decide unfair labor practice charges and to conduct elections in which workers were given the opportunity to decide whether they wanted to be represented by a union. Established a federal agency, the National Labor Relations Board, with the power to investigate and decide unfair labor practice charges and to conduct elections in which workers were given the opportunity to decide whether they wanted to be represented by a union. The NLRB was given more extensive powers than the much weaker organization of the same name established under the National Industrial Recovery Act, which the United States Supreme Court had declared to be unconstitutional The NLRB was given more extensive powers than the much weaker organization of the same name established under the National Industrial Recovery Act, which the United States Supreme Court had declared to be unconstitutional

Huey Long During his three brief years in the U.S. Senate, Huey Long became one of the most flamboyant and provocative Senators in the nation's history. During his three brief years in the U.S. Senate, Huey Long became one of the most flamboyant and provocative Senators in the nation's history. He earned the enmity of his fellow Senators due to his frequent use of the filibuster to make some "point of principle" about which he was especially passionate. He earned the enmity of his fellow Senators due to his frequent use of the filibuster to make some "point of principle" about which he was especially passionate. He used the floor of the Senate to the fullest-- taking the Senate floor to place in the official record his arguments for his Share The Wealth program, and to proselytize for his general world-view. He used the floor of the Senate to the fullest-- taking the Senate floor to place in the official record his arguments for his Share The Wealth program, and to proselytize for his general world-view.

John L. Lewis John L. Lewis was a pivotal figure in American labor politics. John L. Lewis was a pivotal figure in American labor politics. Driving force behind the founding of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which helped organize millions of industrial workers in the 1930s. Driving force behind the founding of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which helped organize millions of industrial workers in the 1930s. He worked to organize the country's industrial workers through the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in the 1930s. He worked to organize the country's industrial workers through the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in the 1930s. Lewis and the UMW were major backers of Roosevelt's reelection in Lewis and the UMW were major backers of Roosevelt's reelection in When the AFL balked at organizing unskilled workers, Lewis withdrew his unions and formed a new organization, the CIO. When the AFL balked at organizing unskilled workers, Lewis withdrew his unions and formed a new organization, the CIO. By the CIO was spending as much time fighting the AFL as organizing, with the result that union political power was divided against itself. By the CIO was spending as much time fighting the AFL as organizing, with the result that union political power was divided against itself.

Mayor Frank "Boss" Hague In 1937, Jersey City, New Jersey Mayor Frank "Boss" Hague used a city ordinance to prevent labor meetings in public places and stop the distribution of literature pertaining to the cause of the CIO. In 1937, Jersey City, New Jersey Mayor Frank "Boss" Hague used a city ordinance to prevent labor meetings in public places and stop the distribution of literature pertaining to the cause of the CIO. Hague used the machinery of the city to thwart the CIO’s meetings and efforts to secure workers’ rights. Hague used the machinery of the city to thwart the CIO’s meetings and efforts to secure workers’ rights. The CIO responded by bringing a suit against Hague. The CIO responded by bringing a suit against Hague. In 1939, the district and circuit courts ruled in favor of the CIO. In 1939, the district and circuit courts ruled in favor of the CIO. Hague appealed to the Supreme Court which ruled against him and held that Hague's ban on political meetings violated the First Amendment right to freedom of assembly. Hague appealed to the Supreme Court which ruled against him and held that Hague's ban on political meetings violated the First Amendment right to freedom of assembly.

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