What did the Wagner Act do?

• A. It restricted union activity.
• B. It eliminated unions.
• C. It created Social Security.
• D. It gave power to trade unions.

Answer: (D)

The Wagner Act centers on strengthening workers’ ability to organize and bargain. It formalized the right of workers to join unions and participate in collective bargaining with their employer, and it required employers to bargain with a union that the workers have chosen. It also created the National Labor Relations Board to supervise union elections, certify representational status, and address unfair labor practices by employers, such as interfering with organizing or threatening workers. This combination gave unions real power by providing legal recognition and a clear process for negotiation over wages, hours, and conditions. It did not restrict or eliminate unions, and it isn’t the act that created Social Security.