Posts tagged Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932
NLRB Relinquishes Jurisdiction Over SpaceX, Abandoning Yearslong Legal Battle
February 17, 2026 // On January 14, 2026, the NMB issued an opinion stating that SpaceX should be covered by the RLA because “space transport includes air travel.” Notably, the fired SpaceX engineers argued that SpaceX does not belong under the NMB because Congress never gave the agency jurisdiction over commercial space transportation, and because unlike airlines serving the general public, SpaceX offers rides only to “hand-picked customers.” These arguments were rejected by the NMB. Citing to that NMB determination, the NLRB regional director reasoned that it lacks jurisdiction over SpaceX and dismissed the pending unfair labor practice complaint.
Trader Joe’s Bags A Victory At The Ninth Circuit
October 2, 2025 // Trader Joe’s had also asserted a dilution by blurring claim against the union, a claim the district court also dismissed on the basis that Trader Joe’s United’s use of the Trader Joe’s mark constituted nominative fair use. But unfortunately for the union, it had never raised this issue in its briefing before the district court. As such, Trader Joe’s never had the opportunity to test this theory and the Ninth Circuit held that the district court again erred in dismissing the dilution claim.
Labor’s Hidden Monopoly: Why the FTC Should Probe Union Power Too
April 1, 2025 // However, the modern economy calls for a fresh assessment of how we balance worker representation with the benefits of competition. Just as the FTC scrutinizes corporate mergers that could harm consumer welfare, it should consider the anticompetitive effects when a single union controls a significant share of an industry's workforce. Indeed, the FTC’s Bureau of Economics and Office of Policy Planning are both positioned to play a key role in researching labor markets to identify barriers to competition—including those created by government laws and regulations. By studying these dynamics, the FTC can publish research and spotlight how certain government-imposed rules or union protections may inadvertently stifle competition and harm workers.