Foreword
On June 25, 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed theFair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), banning oppressive child laborand setting the maximum workweek at 44 hours and the minimum hourlywage at 25 cents.Although the FLSA was a landmark law in the history of Americanlabor, it initially had a modest impact, excluding farm and domesticworkers and covering only about one-fifth of the American workforce.It was also controversial — criticized by opponents as intrudingupon the prerogatives of business, and hailed by supporters asa way to help the working poor and stimulate the economy.Congress has raised the minimum wage 19 times since 1938; thecurrent…
