What did the 1947 Taft-Hartley Amendments provide to states?

The 1947 Taft-Hartley Amendments to the National Labor Relations Act were significant as they aimed to balance the power between labor unions and employers, while also protecting workers' rights. One of the key provisions of these amendments was granting states the authority to enact "right-to-work" laws. These laws limit union membership obligations by prohibiting agreements that require union membership as a condition of employment. This change allowed states to give workers the choice of whether or not to join a union without facing mandatory requirements.

The focus on state-level control means that even if a workplace is unionized, individuals cannot be compelled to pay union dues unless they choose to be union members. This aspect of the Taft-Hartley Amendments reflects a shift towards supporting workers' freedom of choice in association and their financial commitments to unions. As a result, the correct answer highlights the provision that allows states to limit union membership obligations, which was a notable expansion of powers for states in relation to labor laws.