Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus (pdf)

University of Washington School of Law

Labor Relations and The Law

A554

Autumn Quarter 2021

Monday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. -10:20 a.m.

Room 133

SYLLABUS & SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS

Professor Christopher J. Casillas

Email: chriscas@uw.edu (mailto:chriscas@uw.edu)_

Office hours: Upon appointment

Summary:

This course primarily examines federal labor law governing private employers and the rights of private-sector employees to engage in collective action

in the workplace. Topics include: union organizing; the establishment of the collective bargaining relationship; primary and secondary economic

pressures (strikes, boycotts, etc.); the administration of collective bargaining agreements; and labor arbitration. Although much of the course material

is centered on the law applicable to private-sector workers and employers, the course will also detail the law of public sector labor relations (with a

specific focus on Washington State) and discuss some of the ways in which public sector workers are treated both similarly, and differently, then their

private-sector counterparts.

Course Objectives:

• Develop a historical understanding and recognition for the basis of modern-day union and collective bargaining laws

• Understand the key statutory features of the National Labor Relations Act, Washington State Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act, and

other major State labor laws

• Recognize and comprehend key similarities, and distinctions, between private-sector labor laws and that of various public sector laws

• Comprehend, and critically reflect on, key economic, social, and political arguments in favor of, or against, unionism and how such arguments may

differ in the public and private sectors

• Study the major federal court, National Labor Relations Board, and State labor board decisions interpreting modern-day labor laws, and

• Develop a practice-level understanding of the main issues surrounding union organizing, elections, the parties' duty to bargain, and union rights

and obligations toward its members

Required Text:

1. Casebook ("MLL"): Harris et al., Modern Labor Law in the Private & Public Sectors: Cases & Materials (3 rdEd.)

2. Casebook Supplement ("SUPP"): The casebook comes with a Documentary Supplement containing some original material and sample

documents.

3. The NLRA (29 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.) and PECBA (RCW 41.56 et seq.)- you should have access to the NLRA and PECBA during class. If you

bring a computer with you to class, you can look it up online as needed; if you don't bring a computer to class, you should print out a copy of the

statute and bring it with you each day.

4. CANVAS: Supplemental articles, distributed via email, or posted on the class Canvas site.

Additional Materials:

During the course of the quarter, or as noted in the syllabus, students may be provided with short, additional reading assignments designed to address

current events. All of these additional materials will be provided on CANVAS via the Course Files �Qi.

Course Requirements:

1) A final take-home examination _{htti.is://www.law.washington.edu/students/exams/default.asi.ix)_

(htti.is://www,law.washington.edu/students/exams/default.asi.ix?vw=2020/1 &sw=2020/1 0#toi.i)_(Mon. 12/13, 8:30am) will be given at the close of the