What did labor refer to Taft-Hartley as?

Labor referred to the Taft-Hartley Act as the "Slave Labor Act" due to its provisions that were perceived as significantly restricting the rights of union members and reducing the power of labor unions. This term reflected the strong opposition from labor groups, who viewed the law as oppressive and as a means for the government and employers to weaken organized labor.

The Taft-Hartley Act, enacted in 1947, introduced measures that curtailed union activities, such as prohibiting secondary boycotts, jurisdictional strikes, and closed shops. Additionally, it mandated that union leaders sign affidavits affirming they were not members of the Communist Party. Labor organizations believed these restrictions ultimately undermined their ability to negotiate effectively and achieve fair working conditions for employees. As a result, the act was characterized with strong negative language, highlighting the labor movement’s view of it as a severe infringement on workers' rights.