Class 1: Origins and themes 8

1: Should the law protect and facilitate labor organization? 8

National Labor Relations Board v Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, Sup ct (1937) [congress can regulate labor under
commerce clause] 8
2: What is the nature of the right created by the NLRA and what are its limits? 9
NLRB v. Washington Aluminum Co., sup ct (1962) ['concerted activity' even if no specific demand (cold workers walking
out)] 9
D.R. Horton, 357 NLRB 2277 (2012) [mandatory arbitration agreements enforced] 10
Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis [FIX] 11

Class 2 11
3.1 Concerted action 12
NLRB v. City Disposal Systems, Inc. (1984) [] 12
Hispanics United of Buffalo (2012) [fb post protected] 13
Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market, Inc. (2014) [sex. harassment drawing; seeking asst from coworkers protected]
14
Alstate Maintenance (2019) [not ‘concerted activity’ only ; truly group complaint or TOC] 15
3.2: For mutual aid and protection 15
Eastex, Inc. v. NLRB (sup ct 1978) [newsletter distribution ok; gen political references ok if relevant to employee
interests] 15
Waters of Orchard Park (NLRB 2004) [“whistleblowing” unprotected, only activities related to conditions of employment]
17
Guideline Memorandum Concerning Unfair Labor Practice Cases Involving Political Activity (2008) 18
General Motors LLC (2020) [wright line for abusive conduct] 19
4. Unprotected concerted activity for mutual aid: Misconduct, product disparagement, defamation 19
NLRB v. Local 1229, IBEW (Jefferson Standard) (NLRB 1953) [discharge for disloyalty] 19
Linn v. Plant Guards (sup ct 1966) [nlra doesn’t preempt state libel remedies] 20

Class 3 - Unprotected concerted activity for mutual aid: Misconduct, product disparagement, defamation 25
5. Employee rights in the workplace 25
Republic Aviation Corp. v. NLRB, 324 U.S. 793 (1945) [employees are allowed to solicit for union activity on employer
property as long as it is on the employee’s own time.] 25
Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation (Tobin Center), 368 NLRB No. 46 (2019) [no §7 protection for
contractors if not regular/exclusive work & any reasonable alternative] 26
Wynn Las Vegas, LLC, 369 NLRB No. 91 (2020) [strikes down contemporaneous card req for solicitation, bars during
worktime] 28
Saint John’s Health Center, 357 NLRB No. 170 (2010) [insignia restrictions ok if general restrictions] 28
Nutone (NLRB v. United Steelworkers of America) (1958) [employer anti-union solicitation may be ulp (but not in this
case)] 29
Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, 368 NLRB No. 143 (2019) [employee email solicitation not protected]30
6. Employee rights to hear from unions 31
Lechmere Inc. v. NLRB, 502 U.S. 527 (1992) [non-employee organizers on employer property protected if inaccessible,
discriminatory] 31
Universtiy of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 368 NLRB No. 2 1-5 through first para. (2019) [overturned Lechmere public
access exception] 32
Kroger Limited Partnership, 368 NLRB No. 64, (2019) [only ‘discrimination’ if discriminating against ‘similar in nature’
activities] 33
Technology Service Solutions, 332 NLRB 1096 (2000) [employee lists not reqd by Lechmere’s ‘inaccessibility’ req even
if quite difficult] 33
NLRB v. Town & Country Electric, Inc., 516 U.S. 85 (1995) [salts protected] 34

Class 4 - How do employees obtain union representation? Why is an election encased in a piece of litigation? 35
7. Recognition without an election: Bargaining orders and Voluntary recognition 36
NLRB v. Gissel Packing Co. (395 U.S. 575 (1969)) [employer’s duty to bargain is not limited to unions certified by a
Board election] 37
Linden Lumber Div., Summer & Co. v. NLRB (1974) [union’s responsibility to ask for election] 39
 International Ladies Garment Workers (Bernhard-Altmann Texas Corp.) v. NLRB, 366 U.S. 731 (1961) [ulp for employer
to recognize union w/o majority support] 40
Majestic Weaving Co., 147 NLRB 859 (1964) [negotiating w non-majority union violates 8a2 - must negotiate with
majority union] 42
Dana Corp. (Dana 1), 351 NLRB 434 (2007) 43
Lamons Gasket Co., 357 NLRB 739 (2011) [recognition bar for 'reasonable period of time'; i.e. 6 m.o to 1 yr (since
reversed by nlrb)] 44
Dana Corp. II, 356 NLRB 256 (2010) [recognition bar] 47
8. Representation case procedure and appropriate units 48
Becker, Democracy in the Workplace, § IIB-C 48
CB 538-46: Representation Elections 49
Yale Decision and Direction of Election (2017), pp. 28-38 50
American Hospital Association v. NLRB, (Specialty Healthcare) 490 U.S. 606 (1991) [restricting to 8 bargaining units
for hospitals ok] 51
PCC Structurals, Inc, 365 NLRB No. 160 (2017) [] 52

Wednesday, September 22 - Regulation of Campaign Conduct 55

9. How are union election campaigns regulated? 56
Becker, Democracy in the Workplace, 535-69 §§ IID-IIIC 56
General Shoe Corp., 77 NLRB 124, 125-27 §§ 2 & 3 (1948) [‘laboratory conditions standard’ - even if propaganda not
ulp, election can be set aside] 58
NLRB v. Gissel Packing Co., 395 U.S. 575 (1969); 59
NLRB v. Exchange Parts Co., 375 U.S. 405 (1964) [ulp to grant benefits to prevent union] 60
Stericycle, Inc., 357 NLRB No. 61 1-6 Majority opinion, 8-9 Liebman dissent (2011); [financing suit during ‘critical period’
ulp] 61
Sewell Manufacturing Co., 138 NLRB 66 (1982) [racial prejudice appeal may overturn election if not ‘truthful and
germane’] 62
Interrogation + Polling 62
Surveillance/Allegheny Ludlum Corp. v. NLRB, 301 F.3d 167 (3d Cir. 2002) [requiring to opt out of filming ulp] 63
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., 10-RM-121704, Union Brief in Support of Objections 1-12 (Feb. 21, 2014) 63
10. Elections pt. 2 64
Peerless Plywood, 107 NLRB 427, 428-30 [no speech within 24 hours/on company time/mass assembly] 64
Sisters Food Group, 357 NLRB No. 168 4-8 § 6, 10-14 Becker dissent (2011) [] 64
Excelsior Underwear, 156 NLRB 1236, 1239-1246 through n. 27 § 6 (1966); [must supply names/addresses in election]
66

Class 4 - How are Employee Rights Protected?/Who is Protected? 69

11: How are employee rights protected? 69
NLRA §§ 8(a) & (b) & 10 69
NLRB v. Transportation Management Corp., 462 U.S. 393 (1983) [BOP on employer to show disc. Act under 8a3 not
substantial/motivated by anti-union] 70
Electrolux , 368 NLRB (2019) [no protection for ‘insubordinate’ union organizer employee] 71
Textile Workers Union of America v. Darlington Mfg. Co., 380 U.S. 263 (1965) [partial closing ulp if motivated to chill
unionism, but can close full plant] 72
Paul Weiler, “Promises to Keep: Securing Workers’ Rights to Self-Organization Under the NLRA,” 73
Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. NLRB, 535 U.S. 137 (2002) [no backpay for undocmented immigrants under nlra]
74
Oil Capital Sheet Metal, Inc. [for salt to claim backpay, must present affirmative evidence they would have worked for
the employer for the period claimed] 75
12: Who is Protected and from Whom? Who is an employee? 75
12.1 Independent Contractors 77
S: SuperShuttle DFW, Inc., 367 NLRB No. 751-15 but skip Section III (2019); [franchisees independent contractors
(applying common law)] 77
Steven Greenhouse, “Uber: On the Road to Nowhere,” American Prospect, Dec. 2015 (optional)Error! Bookmark not
defined.
12.2 Supervisors 82
 CB 303-321 82
Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., 348 NLRB 686 (2006) [‘charge nurses’ managers Under NRLA § 2(11) based on their
authority to assign employees using independent judgment.] 82
S: Croft Metals Inc., 348 NLRB 717 [‘lead persons’ not supervisors - don’t assign, no independent judgment] 84
12.3 Managers 86
NLRB v. Yeshiva University, 444 U.S. 672 (1980) [full time faculty managerial employees - unit incl them too large to
stand] 86
Pacific Lutheran University, 361 NLRB No. 157, 14-22, §§ III A-D, G (2014) [contingent faculty have no managerial
authority based on Yeshiva (see academic programs, enrollment management, finances)] 88

Class 5 - Who is an employee, continued? Who is an employer? Why does it matter and can an employee have more
than one? 91
13.1 Students 92
Trustees of Columbia University, 364 NLRB No. 90 (2016) [students common law employees - school has right to
control, performed in exchange for compensation] 92
Northwestern University, 362 NLRB No. 167 [no NLRB jurisdiction for athletes getting scholarships] 94
COVERED EMPLOYERS Error! Bookmark not defined.
Who (or What) is the “Employer”? (Section 2(2)) Error! Bookmark not defined.
13.2 Government 95
NLRB v. Natural Gas Utility District of Hawkins County, 402 U.S. 600 (1971) [district exempt “political subdivision” if
created by state, administered by ppl responsible to public officials] 95
Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School, 364 NLRB No. 87 (2016) [nlrb jurisdiction + no exemption because not created by
state/accountable to public] 97
13.3 Religious Institutions 98
NLRB v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago, 440 U.S. 490, 501-07 §§ V, VI (1979) [religious school teachers exempt - no
legislative intent to bring these teachers in] 98
Duquesne University v. NLRB, 947 F.3d 824 (D.C. Cir. 2020) [refuses to extend pacific lutheran - new test that univ
must “holds itself out as a religious, be nonprofit, be religiously affiliated”] 100
13.4 Joint Employers 101
Browning Ferris Industries of California, Inc. v. NLRB, 911 F.3d 1195; 29 C.F.R. § 103.40 [joint employer test - must
have “reserved authority” to control, control can be exercised indirectly to establish, & need not show authority exercise
in ‘limited and routine manner’] 101
14: What is a labor organization and why does it matter? 103
Employer Domination, Support, and Interference Error! Bookmark not defined.
Electromation, Inc., 309 NLRB 990 (1982) [‘action committees’ constituted ‘labor organization’ - employee participation,
dealt w employees, concerned w conditions] 103
Crown, Cork, & Seal Co., 334 NLRB 699 (2001) [employee committees managerial, don't 'deal with' employees, thus
not labor organizations] 105
TEAM Act of 1995, S. Rep. No. 389, 104th Cong., 2d Sess. 1-9, 41 proposed amendment (1996)Error! Bookmark not
defined.
New Forms of Labor Organization 106
Restaurant Opportunity Center of New York, NLRB GC Adv. Memo., Cases No. 2-CP-1067, et al. 1-4 (Nov. 30, 2006)
[not labor organization bc employment discrimination claims didn’t establish pattern of dealing ] 107
Note on the LMRDA 108

Class 8 110
15: Implications of majority rule & exclusive representation 110
S: Dick’s Sporting Goods, NLRB GC Adv. Memo., Case 6-CA-34821 (June 22, 2006) [minority union requested
bargaining re:safety/termination -- not violation of NLRA] 110
S; NLRB v. J. Weingarten, Inc., 420 U.S. 251, 252-65 (1975) [ULP for denying union representative for interrogation
re:theft, but no right to bargain] 111
IBM Corp., 341 NLRB 1288 (2004), CB 135-42 [weingarten doesn’t extend to coworkers of non-union employees]
112
Mercy Health Partners, 358 NLRB No. 69 (2012), CB 681-83 [8(a)(5) violation to deal directly with employee re transfer
(if communicated directly, for changing wages/terms/union role, & excluding union)] 114
Emporium Capwell Co. v. Western Addition Community Organization, 420 U.S. 50 (1975), CB 420-30 [racial
discrimination doesn’t justify sepearate bargaining] 115
 Schiller, Forging Rivals: Race, Class, Law, and the Collapse of Post-War Liberalism 116
16. What are the rights of the exclusive representative in relation to the employer? 118
16.1 Right to bargain in good faith: 118
NLRB v. American National Insurance Co., 343 U.S. 395 (1952) [board can’t regulate the substance of bargained for
agreements] 119
Hardesty Co., 336 NLRB 258 (2001) [‘regressive bargaining’ can be bad faith surface bargaining - here: delaying, lack
of legitimate explanation, unreasonable demands] 120
16.2 Right to bargain over mandatory subjects: 120
Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. v. NLRB, 379 U.S. 203 (1964) [must bargain before contracting out union work
(mandatory subject)] 121
First National Maintenance Corp. v. NLRB, 452 U.S. 666 (1981); [partial closing not subject to mandatory bargaining
(see textile workers)] 122
Dubuque Packing Co., 303 NLRB 386 (1991) [relocating mandatory subject unless basic change in nature of
employer’s operation, employer establishes work significantly different or labor costs weren’t factor/union wouldn’t have
conceded costs] 123
16.3 Right to Information 124
NLRB v. Truitt Mfg. Co., 351 U.S. 149, 149-54 majority opinion (1956) [Right to information - failing to support claim
re:wages can support bad faith bargaining finding.] 124
16.4 Right to bargain to impasse before unilateral change 125
NLRB v. Katz, 369 U.S. 736 (1962) [Right to bargain to impasse before unilateral change; ulp/8(a)(5) violation to make
changes & circumvent duty to negotiate] 125

Class 9: How can a representative obtain a contract? 126

17: Limits of remedies for failure to bargain in good faith 126
H.K. Porter Co. v. NLRB, 397 U.S. 99 (1970) [board can’t impose terms on remedies in bargaining agreements] 126
17.1 Strikes/Lockouts 127
NLRB v. Insurance Agents’ International Union, 361 U.S. 477 (1960) [sit ins, etc not evidence of bad faith bargaining]
128
17.1.1 Protected from What 129
NLRB v. Mackay Radio & Telegraph Co., 304 U.S. 333 (1938) [employers allowed to permanently replace striking
workers (if on economic grounds)] 129
TWA, Inc. v. Independent Federation of Flight Attendants, 489 U.S. 426 (1988) [not required to lay off junior crossover
employees in order to reinstate senior full-term strikers after strike] 130
17.1.2 Limits of Protection 131
Elk Lumber Co., 91 NLRB 333 (1950) [no discharge protection for slowdowns] 131
Walmart Stores, Inc., 368 NLRB No. 24 (2019) [‘small/non distracting’ logo dress code - interference of rights
outweighed by employer legitimate justifications] 132
International Protective Services, Inc., 339 NLRB 701 (2003) [no right to strike if no reasonable precaution to prevent
foreseeable imminent danger (here, security guards with knowledge of bomb threats)] 132
Yale University, 330 NLRB 246, 246-49, Factual Background & § 1; [grade strike = partial strike] 133
NLRB v. Allis-Chalmers, 388 U.S. 175 (1967) [fines against strikebreakers not prohibited by 8(b)(1)(A)]134
Pattern Makers’ League v. NLRB, 473 U.S. 95 (1985) [can’t fine for resigning during strike; protected under 8(b)(1)(A)]
135
Effect of No-Strike Clause 136
17.2 Lockouts 137
CB 793-796 137
American Ship Building Co. v. NLRB, 380 U.S. 300 (1965) [lockout not ulp] 137
18: Why is secondary activity prohibited and what is it? 138
NLRA § 8(b)(4) 138
NLRB v. Denver Building & Construction Trades Council, 341 U.S. 675 (1951) [cannot picket/strike to secondary
boycott] 138
Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (Moore Dry Dock Co.), 92 NLRB 547 (1950) [picketing entrance to dry dock primary action
because time, place, and disclosure] 139
Local 761 v. NLRB (GE), 366 U.S. 667 (1961) [can prohibit picketing at separate gate if doesn't relate to or curtail
operations] 140
 Building & Construction Trade Council (Markwell & Hartz), 155 NLRB 319 (1965) [Construction site secondary site for
contractors] 141

Class 10 - secondary pressure, collective bargaining agreements 142

19. Secondary pressure 142
NLRB v. Fruit & Vegetable Packers & Warehousemen, Local 760 (Tree Fruits) (1964) [not secondary activity when
picketing used to get buyers to boycott (safeway apples)] 143
NLRB v. Retail Store Employees Union, Local No. 1001 (Safeco Title Ins Co) (1980) [Picketing that reasonably can be
expected to threaten neutral parties with ruin/substantial loss violates NLRA] 143
Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. v. Florida Gulf Coat Bldg. & Constr. Trades Council (1988) [mall picketing non-coercive]
144
Thornhill v. Alabama (NLRB 1940) 145
Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 135 S. Ct. 2218 (2015) (striking down ordinance prohibiting signs that exempts some signs,
including those with political and ideological messages) 146
NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware (1982) 146
United Bhd. Of Carpenters, Local 1506 (Eliason & Knuth) (NLRB 2010) [use of banners not coercive or picketing]
146
San Antonio Community Hospital v. Southern California District Council of Carpenters (CA9 1997) 147
Sheet Metal Workers Int’l Ass’n, Local 15 v. NLRB (DC Cir 2007) [mock funeral like billing, not picketing - permitted]
147
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 150 (NLRB 2021) [displaying rat near neutral site permissible
(citing eliason)] 147
Defendant’s Memo in Support of Summary Judgment, 520 South Michigan Avenue Associates v. UNITE HERE Local 1
(ND Ill. 2015) 149
20. How are collective bargaining agreements enforced and what rights are enforceable through collective
bargaining agreements? 149
United Steelworkers of America v. American Manufacturing Co. (Steelworker trilogy #1) (SCOTUS, 1960) [Contract
says all disputes must be arbitrated, ct says employer must arbitrate - ‘no business weighing the merits of the
grievance’] 150
United Steelworkers of America v. Warrior & Gulf Navigation Co. (Steelworker Trilogy 2) (SCOTUS, 1960) [In
disagreement over whether arbitration agreement applies (contracting out), ct says must arbitrate to decide] 151
United Steelworkers of America v. Enterprise Wheel & Car Corp. (steelworker trilogy 3) (SCOTUS, 1960) [awards
should be determined by arbitrator, unless it goes against CBA] 152
Eastern Associated Coal Co. v. United Mine Workers (SCOTUS, 2000) [enforce award unless contrary to specific public
policy (reinstatement for positive drug test] 153
MV Transportation, Inc. (NLRB, 2019) [adopts contract coverage test for CBA - if determined to not be unilateral action
provision, ok.] 154
14 Penn Plaza, LLC v. Pyett (SCOTUS, 2009) [CBA provision requiring arbitration enforceable] 157

Class 11 - Relationships with Exclusive Representatives 158

21: What duties does the exclusive representative owe to represented employees? 159
Steele v. Louisville & N.R. Co. et al (S. Ct. 1944) 159
Vaca v. Sipes (S. Ct. 1967) 160
Airline Pilots Ass’n v. O’Neill (S. Ct. 1991) 161
22: What duties do represented employees owe the exclusive representative? 161
NLRB v. General Motors Corp. (S. Ct. 1963) 161
Communication Workers of America v. Beck (S. Ct. 1988) 162
Ellis v. Brotherhood of Railway Clerks (S. Ct. 1984) 162
Janus (2018) 165
Wyatt v. Cole, 504 U.S. 158, 168-69 (1992) 165

Class 12 - Right to work/ending relationships 165

23. Right to work laws 166
S: LMRA § 14(b) 166
Machinists (H.O. Canfield Rubber Co.), 223 NLRB 832, 832-35, § III (1976) 167
Fisk & Sachs, Restoring Equity in Right to Work,” 4 U.C. Irvine L. Rev. 859, 874-79, § III (2014) 168
 Sweeney v. Pence, 767 F.3d 654, 671-85 Dissent (7th Cir. 2014) 168
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 399 v. Village of Lincolnshire v. Operating Engineers Local 399, 905
F.3d 995 (7th Cir. 2018) 170
24. Successorship 171
NLRB v. Burns International Security Services, Inc., 406 U.S. 272 (1972) [successorship if substantial continuity,
majority comprised of predecessor's workforce] 171
Fall River Dyeing v. NLRB, 482 U.S. 27 (1987) 172
NLRB v. Financial Institution Employees (Seattle-First National Bank), 475 U.S. 192, 195-96 through first full para., 198-
209 (1986) 173
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 351 NLRB 143, 143 § I, 144-48 § III(B) (2007) 175
Allentown Mack Sales & Service, Inc. v. NLRB, 522 U.S. 359 (1998) 176
SFO Good-Nite Inn, LLC, 357 NLRB 79 (2011), stop before note 3 on p. 1148 177
Johnson Controls, Inc., 368 NLRB No. 20 1-11 Majority Opinion I-III (2019) 177
Decertification: S: Review NLRB § 9 178

Class 13 - Preemption 180

25. Basic principles of preemption 180
25.1 Scope of preemption(Garmon) 180
San Diego Building Trades Council v. Garmon (sup. Ct 1959) [state jurisdiction must yield when arguably protected by
S7 or ULP under S8 (but tort exceptions apply)] 180
Lodge 76, Machinists v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (sup ct. 1976) [partial strike unregulated under
NLRA so state regulation pre-empted] 182
Lingle v. Norge Division of Magic Chef, Inc. (U.S. 1988) [SECTION 301 PREEMPTION] 183
25.2 Doctrine of Complete Preemption 184
Wisconsin Dept. of Industry v. Gould Inc. (US 1986) [Garmon prohibits states from supplementing NLRB regulations]
184
Livadas v. Bradshaw (US 1994) [State rule predicating benefits on refraining from conduct by federal labor law is
preempted] 185
25.3 Exceptions to preemption 185
Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Mass. (US 1985) [MA mandated benefit law not preempted bc minimum requirements, not
limiting organizing] 185
25.3.1 Market Participant Exception 186
Building & Construction Trades Council v. Assoc. Builders & Contractors of Mass./Rhode Island, Inc. (Boston Harbor)
(US 1993) [NLRA does not pre-empt state from enforcing an otherwise lawful prehire collective 186
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce vs. Milwaukee County (7th Cir. 2005) [NLRA preempts ‘labor peace
agreement’ condition for state contract] 187
Chamber of Commerce v. Brown (US 2008) [prohibition on state funds used for union organizing pre-empted under
Machinists] 187
Chamber of Commerce v. City of Seattle (9th Cir. 2018) [Collective Bargaining Ordinance for uber Not Entitled to State
Action Immunity.] 188