Final answer:
The NRA protected workers by enforcing codes for fair labor practices including minimum wage and maximum work hours. It faced difficulties from industry resistance, voluntary participation issues, and was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1935. Nonetheless, it influenced lasting labor reforms like the 40-hour workweek and minimum wage laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The National Recovery Administration's Efforts of Protecting Workers
The National Recovery Administration (NRA) sought to protect workers by mandating businesses to accept a code that included minimum wages and maximum work hours. Each industry had a "code of fair practice" which allowed workers the right to organize and use collective bargaining, ensuring wages rose with prices. The NRA created codes for over five hundred industries to promote fair labor practices and protect worker rights.
Despite its initial success, the NRA faced several difficulties. Voluntary compliance was challenging, and the biggest companies often dictated the terms, sometimes stifling economic recovery by reducing production and raising prices. The program faced legal hurdles and was ultimately deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1935, as it was argued to violate principles of limited government and free enterprise, centralizing too much power in federal hands.
Although declared unconstitutional, the NRA influenced significant labor reforms such as the prohibition of child labor, establishing a 40-hour workweek, setting minimum wages, and requiring overtime pay. These changes aligned with labor movement goals and received backing from the federal government to reduce unemployment by encouraging businesses to hire more workers.