This course focuses on the National Labor Relations Act, which since the New Deal has governed the relationship among private sector employers, unions, and workers. It examines the practical aspects of the subject matter, including protected-concerted activity, union activity, strikes and lockouts, collective bargaining, secondary activity, and preemption.
An important objective of the course is to provide an understanding of the historical context of the labor movement, its ongoing evolution and the current relevance of traditional labor law.
Readings and class discussion consist largely of decisions of the United States Supreme Court and administrative decisions of the National Labor Relations Board. In addition, the course includes limited readings about the Railway Labor Act, and discussion of public sector labor law to demonstrate the governmental approach to labor issues and broaden the course's perspective