National Labor Relations Act
Title
National Labor Relations Act
Creator
United States Congress
Subject
Great Depression
New Deal
Labor unions—United States
Workers’ rights—United States
Economic recovery—United States
Collective bargaining
New Deal
Labor unions—United States
Workers’ rights—United States
Economic recovery—United States
Collective bargaining
Description
The National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act, was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 5, 1935. The act guaranteed workers the right to form labor unions and engage in collective bargaining. It also established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to enforce labor protections and address unfair labor practices. The legislation reflected the New Deal’s broader effort to improve working conditions and strengthen economic recovery during the Great Depression.
Publisher
National Archives and Records Administration
Contributor
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Wagner, Robert F.
Wagner, Robert F.
Date
1935-07-05
Type
text
Format
Digital text (government document)
Identifier
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/national-labor-relations-act
Source
National Archives and Records Administration, Milestone Documents
Language
English
Relation
Related to the New Deal; related to labor reform and economic recovery legislation
Coverage
1935 United States
Rights
Public domain
Files
Collection
Citation
United States Congress, “National Labor Relations Act,” Santa Clara University Digital Exhibits, accessed May 23, 2026, https://dh.scu.edu/exhibits/items/show/5992.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.