Taft-Hartley Act

American  

[taft-hahrt-lee] / ˈtæftˈhɑrt li /

noun

1. an act of the U.S. Congress (1947) that supersedes but continues most of the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act and that, in addition, provides for an eighty-day injunction against strikes that endanger public health and safety and bans closed shops, featherbedding, secondary boycotts, jurisdictional strikes, and certain other union practices.

---

Taft-Hartley Act Cultural  

1. A major law concerning labor, passed by Congress in 1947. President Harry S. Truman vetoed Taft-Hartley (see veto), but it became law by a two-thirds vote of Congress. It marked a reversal of the pro-labor policies pursued under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. For example, the law prohibited a list of “unfair” labor practices and restricted the political activities of labor unions.

---

Example Sentences

Even now, the government can invoke the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, which allows the president to ask a court to order an 80-day cooling-off period when public health or safety is at risk.

From Salon • Oct. 2, 2024

But labor power had taken a hit earlier: the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, which weakened union power.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 10, 2022

Writers also allege packaging fees constitute an illegal kickback to agencies, one that violates the Taft-Hartley Act.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2019

During a major West Coast labor dispute at several ports, the Bush administration invoked the Taft-Hartley Act for the first time since 1971.

From Washington Post • Nov. 29, 2016

We have now had 5 years' experience with the Labor Management Act of 1947, commonly known as the Taft-Hartley Act.

From State of the Union Address by Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David)