Collective Bargaining For Public Safety Employees

Collective Bargaining For Public Safety Employees
The Flamingo Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada

Agenda | Speakers | Hotel & Travel Information | CLE & P.O.S.T. Certification

9:00 am | Introduction And Recent Developments In Law Enforcement Labor Issues

Recent developments from around the country in the area of public safety labor relations.

Recent court decisions and laws enacted by Congress.
Discussion of recent court decisions interpreting and dealing with the ADA, the FMLA, physical fitness plans, sexual discrimination, the Garrity rule, the Weingarten rule, affirmative action.
A review of the national trends on wages and benefits.

Will Aitchison

10:00 am | Bargaining In Today’s Economic Environment: The Roots Of The Problem

A review of wage and benefit settlements over the last six months in public safety agencies.
A review of national economic projections, including projections for the Consumer Price Index and other national indices that impact an employer’s ability to pay.
The current projections for increases in medical costs.

Will Aitchison

1:00 pm | Bargaining In Today’s Economic Environment: Trends And Basic Principles

The different strategies taken by public safety employers and unions in bargaining in difficult times.
The increased focus on politics and media relations, and the implications of getting the public involved in the bargaining discussion.

Will Aitchison and Richard Whitmore

9:00 am | The Nuts & Bolts Of Bargaining

A thorough discussion of the mechanics of collective bargaining.

Preparing and maintaining a bargaining strategy.
Keeping a “contract notebook”
Preparing for the meet-and-confer process.
The composition of the bargaining team and the roles played by different bargaining team members.
Selecting comparable jurisdictions and total compensation analysis, including cost of living, workload and productivity, local labor markets, cross-classification analysis, and other topics which are raised in an assessment of wages and benefits.
How one goes about proving bargaining history.
The significance of a “tentative agreement.”

Will Aitchison, Rob Wexler, Jonathan Swain

8:30 am | Unfair Labor Practices

What makes something an “unfair labor practice”? Federal, state, and local laws defining unfair labor practices.
What is failing to bargain in good faith?
Discrimination or retaliation on the basis of union activity; how is the case proven, and what are an employer’s defenses?
The duty to exchange information about bargaining issues and grievances. How far does it go, and how do public records laws impact the duty?
The improper “domination” of a labor organization by an employer.
The remedies available when an unfair labor practice has been committed.

Jonathan Downes

Will Aitchison – Mr. Aitchison is a Portland, Oregon attorney who has, over the course of his career, represented over 100 law enforcement and firefighter labor organizations in five western states. He is a veteran of hundreds of public sector labor negotiations. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. and is the author of several books on public sector labor matters, including The Rights of Law Enforcement Officers (6th Edition), and The Rights of Firefighters (3rd Edition).

Jonathan Downes – Mr. Downes is a partner in the Columbus, Ohio firm of Downes, Hurst & Fishel. He received his law degree from Case Western Reserve University. He is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Specialist in Labor and Employment Law and is admitted to practice in Ohio, the Federal District Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has extensive experience at collective bargaining, arbitration, litigation, administrative matters, civil rights, and civil service law. He edits the annual publication of the Ohio Civil Service and Collective Bargaining Laws Annotated.

Jonathan Swain – Mr. Swain is a member of the Board of Directors and President of the Law Firm of Lindner & Marsack, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his practice is devoted to representing management in labor and employment law issues in both the public and private sector. He received his law degree from Marquette University Law School. He presently serves on the Committee on Employee Rights and Responsibilities of the Labor Law Section of the American Bar Association and is a member of the International Labor Law Committee.

Robert Wexler – Mr. Wexler is a partner in the Southern California law firm of Silver, Hadden, Silver, Wexler & Levine. He has spent his entire career in the area of Labor and Employment law with a special emphasis on issues affecting public safety employees and their associations through collective bargaining, employment litigation, and disciplinary defense. He is a graduate of Southwestern University School of Law.

Richard Whitmore – Mr. Whitmore is an attorney in the San Francisco, California office of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore. The firm specializes in representing management interests in public sector labor relations. He is the author of A Model Law Enforcement Contract: A Management Perspective (Second Edition) and A Model Firefighter Contract: A Management Perspective, both published by Labor Relations Information System. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Stanford University School of Law.

The Flamingo Las Vegas
3555 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas,
702-733-3111 • 800-732-2111

To make arrangements, call the hotel directly and request the group rate for this seminar. Room rates are $130 per night, single or double occupancy, Tuesday through Thursday nights; $150 per night on Friday and Saturday nights. These rates are for the updated GO rooms. For a description of the rooms or to make reservations, go to the Flamingo's web site. Please note that a very limited number of rooms are available at this rate on Friday and Saturday nights, so book early if you plan to stay over.

Reservations must be made by March 29, 2010. Reservations received after this date will be on a space-available basis only and at the prevailing rate. Because of the heavy tourist activity in Las Vegas any time of the year, be sure to make your reservations before March 29!!

P.O.S.T. Certification (Law Enforcement)
Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) credits may be available on a state-by-state basis. If you would like more information on your state, please contact Seminar Coordinator Debbie Frields at (503) 282-5440 or Debbie@LRIS.com prior to the seminar.

Continuing Legal Education Certification (Attorneys)
Continuing legal education certification LRIS has been approved as a CLE provider by the State Bar of California. This program will qualify for 12.5 hours of MCLE credit by the State Bar of California. If you require certification from any other state, please call Seminar Coordinator Debbie Frields at (503) 282-5440 or Debbie@LRIS.com prior to the seminar.

Submit a CLE request or view CLE status of this seminar.