Work Preservation Boycotts: The Drawing of Lines More Nice than Obvious

This article examines the development of legal doctrine dealing with the work preservation boycott, a labor tactic wherein union members attempt to protect their jobs and standards of employment from the impacts of technological change. By analyzing a case recently decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the author illustrates the practical and theoretical problems of applying the legal standards currently accepted in this area. These problems can be traced to an uncertain legislative mandate for regulating work preservation disputes and to the inherently difficult social and economic issues that arise when technology threatens employment. The author concludes with a suggestion for clarifying the law relating to work preservation boycotts, and making it more capable of rational administration.