Final answer:
The Taft-Hartley Act restricted labor union activities post-World War II, reversing earlier pro-union legislation, and has been used to intervene in and facilitate the resolution of labor disputes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Labor Management Relations Act (Taft-Hartley Act) of 1947 and the Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959 are significant events in the history of labor unions in the United States. The Taft-Hartley Act restricted the activities of labor unions and reversed many of the gains that unions had made under the Wagner Act of 1935. Specifically, it banned closed shops and union shops, limited the use of union funds in political campaigns, and gave states the authority to enact right-to-work laws. Moreover, it provided the President with the power to intervene in strikes that could affect national interests by imposing an 80-day cooling-off period. The Landrum-Griffin Act, also known as the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, further regulated union activities by establishing a bill of rights for union members and requirements for the reporting and disclosure of certain financial and administrative practices.
Despite these restrictions, it's important to note that during disputes, such as the 2015 port stoppage, the Taft-Hartley Act's provisions have sometimes facilitated the resolution of labor conflicts, as was the case when President Obama used the Act to encourage negotiations.