Duquesne University v. NLRB

**What Happened** Adjunct professors at Duquesne University, a Catholic institution in Pittsburgh, tried to form a union. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - the federal agency that oversees union elections - initially supported the professors' right to unionize. However, Duquesne University challenged this decision, arguing that as a religious university, it shouldn't be subject to federal labor law oversight. **What the Court Decided** The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Duquesne University in January 2020. The court determined that the NLRB cannot force religious universities to recognize faculty unions because doing so would violate the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom. The court said that allowing federal oversight of union activities at religious institutions would interfere with their religious mission and autonomy. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling significantly limits unionization rights for faculty at religious colleges and universities. Professors and other employees at faith-based institutions may find it much harder to organize unions or gain collective bargaining rights. The decision creates a religious exemption that removes federal labor protections many workers at these institutions previously enjoyed, potentially affecting thousands of employees nationwide at religious educational institutions.