Lochner v. New York?

Question

Could someone explain the ruling on this? Did it support the reform of workers rights or go against it?

Answer 1

The Supreme Court held that workers had an inherent right to work as long and as much as they wanted to.  The bakery industry was not found to be any more unhealthful than working in a kitchen cooking chicken 12 hours a day.  The City of New York claimed that bakers were under some sort of health peril working the necessary long hours they had to work in order to make a profit in their chosen profession and that it would be a burden on the state if the state had to provide for their health care when they became ill.  The court did not agree with them.