What rights did the Wagner Act of 1935 guarantee to workers, and what impact did it have on labor unions?

• A. Guaranteed the right to strike and picket without penalties.
• B. Guaranteed the right to organize and bargain collectively; expanded the power and numbers of labor unions, enforced by the NLRB.
• C. Created a flat national wage and banned unions.
• D. Provided tax credits to unions.

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is how workers gained legal leverage to shape their work lives. The Wagner Act guarantees that workers can join together to form unions and choose a representative to bargain with their employer. It creates a formal framework for collective bargaining, so the union can negotiate on wages, hours, and working conditions. It also protects workers from employers interfering with their organizing activity and from retaliation for union involvement.

To enforce these rights, the Act established the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB runs elections to determine who will represent workers and investigates unfair labor practices, making sure both sides follow the rules. Because of this structure, unions could organize more openly and effectively, leading to a substantial growth in union strength and membership.

Options that suggest a flat national wage, banning unions, or giving tax credits miss the central change: the move was about organizing rights, collective bargaining, and an enforcement mechanism, not about wage floors, outlawing unions, or tax benefits.