Workers have the legal right to refuse certain unsafe work assignments under two federal laws, the Occupation Safety and Health Act and the NationalLaborRelationsAct.
Although the NationallaborrelationsAct encompasses most private-sector workers, states have jurisdiction over labor relations for state and local employees and agricultural workers.
Our research indicates that New Deal industrial and labor policies, such as the National industrial Recovery Act and the Wagner Act (the NationallaborRelationsAct), were the main reasons.