1935 vs. Today

1935: Workers Get a Voice

In the 1930s, across the country and in every sector, workers took to the streets to end their poor working conditions, low wages and abusive labor practices. Some died fighting for their rights.

Newspapers were full of attacks on workers as employers refused to recognize the labor law reforms adopted in the early days of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration.

Then in 1935, under FDR, the National Labor Relations Act was enacted, declaring that workers had the right to organize and bargain collectively without employer interference. The National Labor Relations Board was established to provide workers a place to seek justice. It was clear whose side FDR was on.

Organizing and bargaining remained turbulent, as many employers fought against the NLRA and appealed it to the U.S. Supreme Court.  In 1937, the Supreme Court reaffirmed workers’ new rights: “Employees have as clear a right to organize and select their representatives for lawful purposes as a company has to organize its business…”

Today:  How Are We Standing Up for Workers’ Rights?

Earlier generations of working women and men fought for the union rights we have today. They were beaten, blacklisted and some were killed. It’s our turn to defend our rights.

Right now, CWA activists and our allies are meeting with Senators and staff, writing letters and calling Senate offices to push for the confirmation of all five presidential nominations to the NLRB, and if that vote is blocked, to vote to change the Senate rules. We need to step it up between now and the end of July.

Building our movement of 50 million strong, workers, people of faith, civil rights and community activists, immigrant activists, students and more, is the way we will change America.