Legal Definitions - Labor Disputes Act

Definition: The Labor Disputes Act is another name for the Norris-LaGuardia Act. This law was passed in 1932 to protect workers' rights to organize and strike without interference from their employers. It also limited the power of federal courts to issue injunctions against labor unions.

Example: In the early 20th century, many employers used injunctions to stop strikes and other labor actions. For example, in 1911, the Supreme Court issued an injunction against the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, which was striking for better wages and working conditions. The Norris-LaGuardia Act made it much harder for employers to use injunctions in this way.

Explanation: The Labor Disputes Act, or Norris-LaGuardia Act, was an important piece of legislation that helped to protect workers' rights to organize and strike. By limiting the power of federal courts to issue injunctions against labor unions, the law made it harder for employers to use legal means to stop strikes and other labor actions. This allowed workers to more effectively negotiate with their employers for better wages, working conditions, and other benefits.