Eleanor Morton

Eleanor Morton represents working people, labor unions and workers centers in litigation in federal and state courts, before federal and state administrative agencies, and in mediation and arbitration.  In 2011, she was named a “Rising Star” by California Lawyer magazine.  She started working at Leonard Carder in 2003 and has been a partner since 2009.  The following are examples of some of her work:

• Represented ILWU and locals in multiple NLRB and federal court cases in California, Oregon and Washington defending against federal court injunctions, contempt allegations, secondary boycott claims and antitrust claims challenging strikes and other union activity.
• Represented ILWU in series of landmark cases in California and Hawaii establishing that marine terminal superintendents are not supervisors under the NLRA and are thus able to unionize.
• Negotiated first contracts for multiple bargaining units and successfully represented unions through contentious contract bargaining and strikes.
• Represented union and individual workers in series of California cases establishing new protocols for workers with disabilities in the longshore industry.
• Successfully obtained emergency injunction against the City of Oakland requiring expanded public access to City Council meetings.
• Represented ILWU in negotiations and related legal proceedings over three-month lockout by Rio Tinto mining company.
• Represented multiple unions in grievance/ arbitration proceedings to protect union contract rights and challenge discipline and discharges.
• Obtained preliminary injunction against the National Park Service to block the award of the Alcatraz ferry contract for violations of federal prevailing wage law.
• In collaboration with East Bay Community Law Center, successfully represented multiple individuals facing barriers to employment due to prior criminal records.
• Represented Masters, Mates and Pilots Union in lawsuit challenging employers’ failure to pay prevailing wages on multiple bridge construction projects.  Obtained legal rulings expanding workers’ rights under state prevailing wage law.
• Represented multiple classes of delivery drivers and retail workers in litigation challenging failures to pay overtime, minimum wages and reimburse expenses in violation of California law.
• Provided legal advice to labor unions and workers’ groups in corporate campaigns, collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance handling, and compliance.
• Conducted trainings for workers, unions and attorneys on topics such as non-discrimination law, grievance-handling, the gig economy, class actions, and compliance with the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.

Before joining Leonard Carder, Eleanor served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lynn Adelman in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Eleanor graduated from Earlham College with high honors and Phi Beta Kappa and from Northeastern University School of Law.  She lives in San Francisco with her partner and is a proud mom of an elementary school student.