The Assault on American Labor Law: Unions Before the Supreme Court, 1965–2025
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Labor History Research Center is pleased to welcome Professor Roger C. Hartley (LAW 1972) to discuss his recent book, The Assault on American Labor Law: Unions Before the Supreme Court, 1965–2025. This installment of the ongoing labor history book talk series will conclude with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
In The Assault on American Labor Law, Hartley meticulously examines six decades of Supreme Court decisions on the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), uncovering a troubling trend. Through his analysis of nearly 100 cases, he argues that the Court has frequently functioned as a de facto legislative body, reshaping the NLRA’s collectivist foundations to favor businesses and individual interests over workers. According to Hartley, this judicial shift has left many American workers confronting globalization, deindustrialization, and technological change without the collective power and protections provided by union representation. His comprehensive study sheds light on the roots of the current labor law crisis, offering a critical perspective for restoring workers’ rights to organize.
Professor Roger C. Hartley, Catholic University Law School’s most senior faculty member, has been a cornerstone of the law school since joining the faculty in 1974. He has taught a wide variety of courses but specializes in Labor Law, Constitutional Law, and Federal Courts. A prolific research scholar, he has published five books – four published in the past ten years – as well as dozens of Law Journal articles. Renowned for his exceptional teaching, Professor Hartley has been voted teacher of the year multiple times, most recently recognized for providing students with unparalleled support. Professor Hartley has been recognized by other labor scholars as a “highly respected and prolific labor law scholar” whose scholarship is “impeccable.” His most recent book, The Assault on American Labor Law, has been lauded by his peers as “vividly illuminating how the evolving law detrimentally affected workers and the labor movement.”
