Ellen Dichner is a Distinguished Lecturer in Labor Studies at CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. She has practiced labor and employment law for more than 25 years. During President Obama’s administration, she served as Chief Counsel to former Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, where she participated in the issuance of major labor law decisions. Before her appointment at the NLRB, Ms. Dichner was a partner with the law firm Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss, LLP, where she handled a wide range of matters on behalf of workers and unions, including union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations, arbitrations, litigation in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. Ms. Dichner also represented individuals and groups of workers in wage and hour cases, employment discrimination and other litigation. At SLU, Ms. Dichner teaches courses on U.S. labor law. She also teaches in SLU’s Project Law, a joint program with CUNY Law School that provides eligible underserved students with academic preparation for admission to law school.

 

Selected Publications

 

Recent News

  • B.A., Government, Oberlin College
  • J.D., Northeastern University School of Law

  • March 2021 – Panelist
    The First 100 Days: Policy Priorities for Labor and Social Justice Movements
    New Labor Forum webinar
  • May 2019 – Panelist
    Catching Up with the NLRB: What’s Happening and What’s on the Horizon
    AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, Annual Conference
  • November 2016 – Keynote Speaker
    Recent Developments in NLRA Law
    38th Annual Labor Law Conference
    New Jersey State Bar Association Labor and Employment Section, and National Labor Relations Board, Region 22
  • June 2013 – Paper and Panelist
    Developments in NLRB Representation Law
    AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, Annual Conference
  • April 2011 – Panelist
    Recent Developments and Issues Before the NLRB
    Association of the Bar of the City of New York
  • June 2010 – Panelist
    Advancing Organizing Through Labor Law
    SEIU Lawyers Conference
  • April 2008 – Presenter
    Expanding Paths to Representation
    AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, Northeast Regional Conference
  • October 2007 – Panelist
    Neutrality and Recognition Agreements
    SEIU Annual Lawyers Conference: Campaigns for Social Justice
  • February 2003 – Paper and Panelist
    MV Transportation, 337 NLRB No. 129 (2002)
    American Bar Association, Section on Labor and Employment Law
  • May 2001 – Paper and Panelist
    Intermittent/Partial Strikes, In-Plant Work Stoppages, Refusal to Work Overtime and Work-to-Rule
    AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, Annual Conference
  • March 2000 – Speaker
    Organizing Law Workshop
    Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
  • September 1999 – Panelist
    Independent Contractors under the NLRA and FLSA: The Intersection of Immigration and Employment Law
    Matthew Bender Continuing Legal Education Program
  • June 1999 – Panelist
    The Legal Rights of Unions and Employees During Union Organizing Drives
    New York City Central Labor Council
  • October 1998 – Panelist
    NLRA Representation Law and Procedure
    AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, Northeast Regional Conference
  • June 1997 – Paper and Panelist
    Asserting the Union’s Right After Certification
    AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, Annual Conference
  • September 1995 – Panelist
    Injunctive Relief Under the National Labor Relations Act
    Conference on Basic NLRA Law and Procedures, American Bar Association and New York State Bar Association

  • LABR 669, Special Topics – Labor Arbitration: the law and practice
  • LABR 669, Special Topics — The future of labor law: eliminating impediments to organizing workers
  • LABR 604, Labor Law
  • LABR 302, Contemporary Labor Issues
  • Project Law