Since the firm began, our clients have come to expect practical, constructive advice that considers their best interests.
Labor Relations: Collective Bargaining
Working in constant contact with our clients’ governing boards and managerial and human resources staff, we help negotiate, draft, and review collective bargaining agreements – including direct participation as chief spokesperson in negotiations, mediation and arbitration. We develop evidence in support of the employer’s position on the issues that are raised and serve as effective advocates to achieve the employer’s objectives. We strive to understand the business of each employer in order to reach practical and lasting outcomes to maintain a stable workplace, free of conflict.
The firm’s lawyers regularly deal with the numerous labor organizations including the CEA, CFT, CSEA, AFSCME (Councils 4 and 15), UPSEU/COPS, NAGE, IBPO, IAFF, the Hartford Police Union, MEIU, IUOE, CWA, the Teamsters and other unions representing public sector employees.
We believe that drafting contract language with care and attention to detail is essential to successful collective bargaining. At the end of the day, the labor agreement must clearly state what the parties intended during their negotiations. Poorly drafted language leads to later disputes about what the contract means and results in costly and time-consuming grievances. We also consider what steps will have to be taken to administer the contract and develop the contract so as to minimize the burden of later implementation.
