Final answer:
It is true that in the late 1980s, the NLRB moved towards a proliferation of bargaining units, deviating from Congress's preference to avoid fragmentation in healthcare institutions. This was part of the complex history of labor law in the United States that evolved over the years from the Wagner Act to the Taft-Hartley Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is True. Although Congress aimed to prevent fragmentation of bargaining units within healthcare institutions, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) took steps toward the proliferation of bargaining units in the late 1980s. This move was somewhat of a departure from the historical trend of labor laws and regulations that generally sought to strengthen and support collective bargaining and unionizing efforts. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935, also known as the Wagner Act, played a pivotal role in shaping labor relations in the United States by affirming the right of workers to organize and mandating that employers recognize and negotiate with unions. Nevertheless, subsequent laws like the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 also reflected the evolving legal climate surrounding labor relations, which at times has been less supportive of union efforts.