Charles Morris (legal educator)
Encyclopedia
Charles J. Morris is professor of law emeritus at the Dedman School of Law
at Southern Methodist University
in Dallas, Texas
. He is an internationally renowned labor law scholar and authority on the National Labor Relations Act
.
He has a bachelor's
and a bachelor of law degree. Morris joined the Dedman School in 1966.
In 2005, Morris initiated a major discussion within the American labor movement
with the publication of his book, The Blue Eagle At Work: Reclaiming Democratic Rights In The American Workplace
. Morris argued that in the absence of a union representing a majority of the employees in a workplace, the National Labor Relations Act
requires an employer to bargain with a union that represents only a minority number of the employees. Morris argued that such "members-only bargaining" was once common practice in the United States, and he suggests that "members-only bargaining" should be used to jump-start the union organizing. Morris' conclusions have generated considerable controversy.
On August 14, 2007, seven American labor unions asked the National Labor Relations Board
to force employers to bargain with their member-only unions, even though the unions represent a minority number of workers. The case is seen as a major test of Morris' "Blue Eagle" legal theory.
Morris is the author of three books and a large number of articles. He is a member of the national advisory board of the Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law
.
Now retired, Morris lives in San Diego, California
.
Dedman School of Law
The Southern Methodist University School of Law, commonly referred to as SMU Law School or Dedman School of Law is a prominent professional graduate law school located in Dallas, Texas. Founded in February 1925, the school remains the only law school in Dallas...
at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. He is an internationally renowned labor law scholar and authority on the National Labor Relations Act
National Labor Relations Act
The National Labor Relations Act or Wagner Act , is a 1935 United States federal law that limits the means with which employers may react to workers in the private sector who create labor unions , engage in collective bargaining, and take part in strikes and other forms of concerted activity in...
.
He has a bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and a bachelor of law degree. Morris joined the Dedman School in 1966.
In 2005, Morris initiated a major discussion within the American labor movement
Labor unions in the United States
Labor unions in the United States are legally recognized as representatives of workers in many industries. The most prominent unions are among public sector employees such as teachers and police...
with the publication of his book, The Blue Eagle At Work: Reclaiming Democratic Rights In The American Workplace
The Blue Eagle At Work
The Blue Eagle At Work: Reclaiming Democratic Rights in the American Workplace is a legal treatise written by Charles J. Morris which analyzes collective bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act , the federal statute governing most private sector labor relations in the United States...
. Morris argued that in the absence of a union representing a majority of the employees in a workplace, the National Labor Relations Act
National Labor Relations Act
The National Labor Relations Act or Wagner Act , is a 1935 United States federal law that limits the means with which employers may react to workers in the private sector who create labor unions , engage in collective bargaining, and take part in strikes and other forms of concerted activity in...
requires an employer to bargain with a union that represents only a minority number of the employees. Morris argued that such "members-only bargaining" was once common practice in the United States, and he suggests that "members-only bargaining" should be used to jump-start the union organizing. Morris' conclusions have generated considerable controversy.
On August 14, 2007, seven American labor unions asked the National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
to force employers to bargain with their member-only unions, even though the unions represent a minority number of workers. The case is seen as a major test of Morris' "Blue Eagle" legal theory.
Morris is the author of three books and a large number of articles. He is a member of the national advisory board of the Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law
Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law
The Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law is a law journal that publishes articles in the field of labor and employment law. It was founded in 1979 as the Industrial Relations Law Journal. It changed its name to the current title in 1993...
.
Now retired, Morris lives in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Published works
- American Labor Policy: A Critical Appraisal of the National Labor Relations Act. Washington, D.C.: BNA Books, 1987. ISBN 0-87179-532-9
- The Blue Eagle At Work: Reclaiming Democratic Rights In The American Workplace. Ithaca, N.Y.: ILR Press, 2004. ISBN 0-8014-4317-2
- Developing Labor Law: The Board, The Courts, and the National Labor Relations Act. Washington, D.C.: BNA Books, 1983. ISBN 0-87179-405-5