What legislation established the right for workers to unionize in the United States?

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935, commonly known as the Wagner Act, is the legislation that established the right for workers to unionize in the United States. This act was a significant piece of labor legislation that aimed to protect the rights of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining.

Under this act, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was created to oversee and enforce fair labor practices, including the protection of employees' rights to form unions without interference or discrimination from employers. The Wagner Act greatly empowered labor unions, allowing them to better represent the interests of their members in negotiations over wages, working conditions, and other employment-related issues.

In contrast, the Fair Labor Standards Act primarily focuses on wage and hour regulations, such as minimum wage and overtime pay, rather than directly addressing the right to unionize. The Labor Management Relations Act and the Taft-Hartley Act introduced certain restrictions on labor unions and their activities, which arose in response to perceived excesses of labor power. Thus, while these latter acts are significant within the context of labor relations, they do not establish the foundational right for workers to unionize as the Wagner Act does.