What is the primary purpose of the Wagner Act established in 1935?

The Wagner Act, officially known as the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, was designed primarily to protect the rights of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining. This legislation was a response to widespread labor unrest and was a critical measure during the New Deal era aimed at improving labor conditions.

The act guaranteed employees the right to form and join labor unions, engage in collective bargaining over wages and working conditions, and take collective action to address grievances. This was important not only for the empowerment of workers but also for the establishment of a more balanced relationship between labor and management. By ensuring that workers had the legal right to organize, the Wagner Act aimed to promote fair labor practices and address the power imbalance that often existed between large corporations and individual workers.

Understanding its historical context highlights its significance in shaping labor rights in the United States, which encouraged the growth of unions and led to substantial improvements in working conditions in various industries.