Bruce Michael Cross
Bruce has more than 40 years of experience in the areas of labor and employment law, including NLRB proceedings, labor negotiations and arbitrations, strikes, picketing, boycotts, OSHA, and wage-hour compliance and class actions.
Bruce Cross has represented clients such as The Boeing Company, Puget Sound Energy Inc., United Parcel Service, Boise Cascade LLC, General Dynamics Land Systems, Northrop Grumman, Honeywell and Esterline.
Bruce dedicates a significant portion of his time to pro bono work. He negotiates collective bargaining agreements and provides general labor & employment advice and counseling to a variety of clients including large nonprofit organizations with hundreds of employees to smaller, social services organizations with as many as five employees.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, Editor, Harvard Journal on Legislation, 1967
- Stockholm University,
- Dartmouth College, A.B., magna cum laude, 1964
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Clerkships
- Bruce Michael Cross > Clerkships, State Supreme Court of Washington
Professional Recognition
Ranked by Chambers USA, as “America’s Leading Lawyers" for Labor & Employment, 2008-2024
Ranked by Chambers USA, as a "Senior Statespeople for Labor & Employment," in Washington, 2021-2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor & Employment 1983-2025
Named "Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America, 2025
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, “Washington’s Super Lawyers", 2004-2023
Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
(AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
Impact
Professional Leadership
- The Association of Washington Business
Human Resources Council
Employment Law and Workplace Safety Committees
Community Involvement
- The Overlake School, Past President of the Board of Trustees
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Labor & Employment
Abraham v. Vanalco
Defense of state law wage and hour class action.
AWPPW v. International Paper Company
Defense of WARN Act class action.
Boeing Company v. NLRB
Overturning adverse NLRB decision concerning removal of work from bargaining unit. 571 F.2d 793 (9th Cir.)
Larson v. BWXT-Protec Benton County Superior Court, WA.
Whistle-blowing and related claims arising at Hanford - dismissed at the close of plaintiff's case.
Longshoremen Local 7
Secondary boycott activity of longshore union seeking to obtain additional work. 291 NLRB 89
NLRB v. Retail Clerks Local 1001(Safeco Title Insurance Company)
Secondary boycott activity. 447 U.S. 607
Owens, et al. v. Local No. 169, Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers v. ITT Rayonier Inc.
Defense of class action relating to compensability of "on call" time for overtime purposes. 971 F.2d 347 (9th Cir.)
Saint v. Mutual of Enumclaw
Defense of wage and hour class action. Case settled on favorable terms.
Watkins v. United Parcel Service Inc.
Defense of wage and hour class action. Settled favorably following certification.