ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes legal developments guiding collective bargaining in higher education from the turn of the 21st century to 2020. The chapter begins by explaining the relationship between federal and state labor laws and then describes the shrinking reach of collective bargaining in several formerly labor-friendly states. The status of collective bargaining at religious-based institutions is also discussed. This chapter examines evolving laws for graduate student unions at public institutions and the effort by college football players to unionize. The end of the chapter addresses the interplay between the laws of collective bargaining and calls for greater equity and social justice at colleges and universities, and the best practices for negotiating and administering contracts. At the heart of each of these issues is the need for labor and management to communicate effectively and build partnerships.
