Labor Law for the Rank and File

Description

There are always risks involved when workers take action to improve conditions in their workplace. Because this is often done without access to professional legal advice, it’s important for workers to educate themselves as a first step towards ensuring that any actions are taken in a way that best protects the workers involved.

Labor Law for the Rank and Filer provides an accessible introduction to existing labor law in the United States, and is of particular use for workers who are beginning to wade into organizing efforts and campaigns. In this session, we’ll examine some relevant aspects of the law, and also create a space to discuss recent actions taken by workers at large tech companies as they pertain to existing labor laws.

Readings

Labor Law for the Rank and Filer: Building Solidarity While Staying Clear of the Law by Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross

• On being your own lawyer (pp. 10-12)
• Where do workers' rights come from (pp. 15-23)
• Basic labor laws (pp. 25-31)
• Rank and filer's bill of rights (pp. 37-52; please skim the rest of chapter 4)
• Solidarity unionism (pp. 79-88)

Discussion Questions

1. Where do workers' rights come from?
2. What does section 7 of the NLRA protect and in what ways has it been undermined since its creation?
3. What does "concerted activity" mean?
4. What are some aspects of labor law that might be of use in the tech industry?
5. What is Solidarity Unionism and how does it apply to the tech industry?
6. Which labor laws were violated in the Lanetix situation? If the laws failed to protect the workers, in what ways can we use them?

Additional Resources

• Tech Start-Up Fires Engineers Amid Union Organizing Effort (Bloomberg Law)
• Joint Statement of Solidarity with Unjustly Fired Lanetix Workers (Tech Workers Coalition)