ABSTRACT
The Great Depression gave the Massachusetts labor movement some of its severest tests, but it also witnessed some of its greatest advances. In 1932 all the New England labor federations except Vermont attended the convention of the Massachusetts State Federation, and a suggested legislative program was drawn up. In the 1932 elections both state parties adopted planks favoring limitations on labor injunctions, and the State Federation conducted its usual non-partisan campaign. The 1938 session of the Legislature found organized labor devoting most of its time to defeating hostile legislation, rather than supporting its own prog The coverage of the industrial home work laws was expanded, and both labor and industry joined other groups in supporting successful legislation to abolish the Boston Port Authority and replace it with a Port of Boston Authority. Factory inspection, industrial homework, workmen’s compensation, and unemployment compensation were also added in the area of protective legislation.
