Definitions for "Taft-Hartley"
The name of an American federal labor law which was passed in 1947, and which sought to "equalize legal responsibilities of labor organizations and employers"; ie. balance the Wagner Act, which, it was felt, may have gone to far in protecting union rights. Where the Wagner Act had was aimed primarily at employer behavior, the Taft-Hartley was aimed at unions and sought to restrain their activities under certain circumstances, by detailing union rights and duties. For example, the Taft-Hartley Act exempted supervisors from it's provisions, allowed employees to decline participation in union activities and permitted union decertification petitions. [Go to source
A federal statute which allows 30 days after first employment before being required to join a Union.
An Act of Congress, passed in 1947, actually consists of amendments to the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA) passed in 1935. The NRLA opened the door to labor practices that harmed not only management but labor as well, and Senators Taft and Hartley drafted legislation that affirms the right of employees not to join a labor union if they so choose, in states that enact "right-to-work" laws. In a right-to-work state, the purpose of "Taft-Hartley-ing" is to notify an actor that he/she is eligible to join the union, and that he MAY do so if he desires.