Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Practice Exam

The Norris-La Guardia Act, passed in 1932, is significant in labor history because it specifically prohibits "yellow dog" contracts. These contracts required workers to agree not to join a union as a condition of employment. By making such agreements illegal, the Norris-La Guardia Act aimed to protect workers' rights to organize and join labor unions without facing coercion or discrimination from employers. This legislation marked a shift toward supporting the rights of workers and diminishing employers' control over union participation, thus laying the groundwork for stronger labor relations in the United States.

The other acts mentioned have different focuses; for instance, the Wagner Act is known for establishing the legal right for workers to organize and bargain collectively, while the Taft-Hartley Act introduced several restrictions on union activities. The Smith-Connally Act dealt with labor disputes during wartime but did not directly address yellow dog contracts.