Which act required union leaders to sign loyalty oaths?

• A. Wagner Act
• B. Landrum-Griffin Act
• C. Taft-Hartley Act
• D. Smith-Connally Act

Answer: (C)

The Taft-Hartley Act, officially known as the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, is significant because it introduced various provisions aimed at balancing the rights of labor unions and employers. One of its key features was the requirement that union leaders sign loyalty oaths, affirming that they were not members of the Communist Party or other groups deemed subversive. This act was a response to post-World War II concerns about the influence of communism in America, particularly within labor unions, and was intended to prevent any potential radical elements from gaining power in the labor movement.

The Wagner Act, enacted in 1935, primarily focused on protecting the rights of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining without fear of retaliation from employers. It did not have provisions regarding loyalty oaths.

The Landrum-Griffin Act, passed in 1959, mainly addressed internal union affairs and aimed to protect union members from corrupt leadership, but it was not known for requiring union leaders to sign loyalty oaths.

The Smith-Connally Act of 1943 was primarily concerned with labor strikes that threatened national security, especially during wartime, and allowed the government to seize control of resources or industries involved in strikes but did not focus on union leaders