Labor Injunctions in Bankruptcy: The Norris-Laguardia Firewall

This article considers whether federal courts, including bankruptcy courts, are authorized to issue injunctions in connection with various kinds of labor disputes arising after the filing of a petition in bankruptcy. The question takes on renewed importance in light of the record number of Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in 2008, including filings by two of the three major American automakers, which are unionized. Given the increasing complexity of some of these notorious reorganizations, the likelihood of post-petition labor disputes appears to have correspondingly increased. In agreement with the few federal circuits that have considered the question, the article concludes that, as a matter of statutory interpretation, the Norris-LaGuardia Act (NLGA) bars the issuance of injunctions (including those generally available under the Bankruptcy Code) in these situations, even assuming the existence of conflict between the NLGA and the Bankruptcy Code of 1978. In addition to analysis of the relevant statutory provisions, the article also more broadly explores the competing statutory policies, and concludes that the NLGA should prevail in instances of conflict because of its status as \u27super statute.\u2