Summary of Classes
Employment Labor Law Update (Rick Liebman, Barran Liebman)- An overview of major developments in case law. This class is the only plenary session; the rest are all breakout sessions.
Arbitration: From the Arbitrator's Perspective (Howell Lankford, Arbitrator) - Howell has been an arbitrator for more than twenty-five years. He has seen it all. He will discuss the mistakes that advocates make, whether it is objections to evidence or an awkward attempt at humor. Learn from mistakes others have made.
Arbitration: Putting It All Together (Giles Gibson, Giles Gibson Law) - Why does the Union take a grievance to arbitration and how is it prepared? Giles will cover the nuts and bolts of case preparation including developing a theory of the case and a strategy for presentation. He will also discuss everything from how to select an arbitrator to how to prepare witnesses and documents for the hearing. Finally, he will identify the top five mistakes that Union advocates make.
ERB (Paul Gamson, Former Chair, Employment Relations Board) - For anyone in the public sector, or anyone with bargaining units in the public sector, this class will be extremely valuable. Learn from the Former Chair of the ERB what to use ERB for and how. Learn from Paul what are the most common mistakes made by Unions.
Expungement of Criminal Records (Adam Arms, McKanna, Bishop, Joffe & Arms) - Many employers have a policy that excludes employment for any criminal conviction which denies many Union members employment. Learn how to expunge criminal records.
FMLA/OFLA (Liz Joffe, McKanna, Bishop, Joffe & Arms) - The Family Medical Leave Act and The Oregon Family Leave Act both provide important rights to Union members. These laws are also important to know in helping the unorganized. Learn the basics about these laws as well as recent changes enacted by Congress and the Oregon Legislature.
Gender and Race Discrimination 2.0 - Microaggressions in Everyday Life (Barbara Diamond, Diamond Law) - An audio-visual presentation including the premier of a documentary film about microaggressions produced and directed by workshop leader Barbara Diamond. The film features several labor activists talking frankly and directly about current race relations and how far we need to go to create a culture of respecting differences. What do white people need to learn about common forms of racism experienced daily by many people of color? Do we live in a post-racial society? How should we think about race and ethnicity now that we have an African-American President? This workshop will be interactive, controversial, and lots of fun.
How to Work with USDOL (Barry Omahen and James “Nick” Browning, Lindquist LLP) - How well would your Local fare in a DOL audit? Whether prompted by cause or sheer bum luck, DOL investigations are a reality. The experts at Lindquist LLP Certified Public Accountants will cover audit triggers and best practices that will (hopefully) keep the DOL out of your union hall. You will also be provided with an action plan and suggestions to minimize the headaches, in the event that the DOL does come a-knockin’.
NLRB (Ronald Hooks, NLRB Regional Director) - This class is driven primarily by questions. It is an opportunity to meet the new Regional Director and learn how to be successful before the NLRB.
Obamacare and Unions (Gene Mechanic, Mechanic Law Firm) - Health care insurance has become a significant collective bargaining issue. Union negotiators must become more proactive and they must be knowledgeable about the 2010 federal health care reform legislation. This workshop will discuss effective strategies for today’s environment. Union negotiators need to know what health insurance non-union employers will be required to offer their own employees and the impact of Obamacare and the Oregon Health Plan.
Offensive Bargaining (David Rosenfeld, Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld) - Many employers give Unions short shrift in response to information requests. Others simply march toward impasse. Too often unions do not ask for documents that will assist them in their negotiations. Learn from the man who wrote the book on how to avoid impasse.
Progressive Discipline (Mike Tedesco, Tedesco Law Group) - What is progressive discipline? What is misconduct? Is it a training issue? Is it a behavioral issue? Is discipline even appropriate? Are other options available? What kind and how much discipline is appropriate? This session will provide you with a new perspective on how to look at discipline and will help you in talking with the employer.
Publicity, Street Theater, Boycotts, and Picketing (David Rosenfeld, Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld) - Picketing is for the most part not effective. Information is much more damaging. Unions can now use many other tactics which provide far more pressure on employers than picketing. Unions can pressure secondary employers far more effectively. These tactics include bannering, leafleting, and other forms of First Amendment expression. The trick is getting the right information to the public. Embarrassment is far more valuable than a thousand pickets. This presentation will show you how you can use information to pressure employers to do the right thing.
Social Media and Organizing (Richard McCracken, McCracken Stemerman & Holsberry and Davis Cowell & Bowe) - We live in an electronic age. Union organizing campaigns can be advanced by criticizing employers and their allies by using social media. Learn how to direct Internet traffic to your website and learn what can and cannot be put on a website.
Social Security Disability (Sharon Maynard, Bennett Hartman Morris & Kaplan) - Most Union pension disability provisions are triggered by eligibility for Social Security Disability. To help members and to assist the unorganized, Union advocates should understand Social Security Disability rules.
Steward Training (Lane Toensmeier, Lane Toensmeier Law Office and Of Counsel Snyder & Hoag) - If a steward is not well trained, he or she is a walking liability for a Union. If a steward violates the Union’s duty of fair representation to a member or if he sexually harasses a member, it is the Union’s checkbook on the line. Similarly, stewards need to know what they can and can’t do under Weingarten. Learn how to put together an informative, appropriate steward training program.
What Happens in Vegas Ends up on FaceBook (Anil S. Karia, Tedesco Law Group) - A boss puts an employee down in front of everyone. The employee posts on FaceBook what kind of a jerk she works for. The employee is friends with Sally, who is friends with Suzy, who is friends with the daughter of the boss. The employee ends up suspended without pay for a week. Social media gives everyone a soapbox. As some recent cases demonstrate, that soapbox is often used to vent about an awful boss. When can venting about the boss jeopardize job security? When can the same venting take on the guise of lawfully protected Union activity?
Workers' Comp (Nelson Hall, Bennett Hartman Morris & Kaplan)B Unfortunately, a lot of Union members continue to be hurt on the job on a regular basis. The amount of misinformation is huge. The more you know, the more you can help your members avoid making needless, costly mistakes.
Workplace Bullying: Health Hazard to All (Gary Namie, Workplace Bullying Institute)- Dr. Namie is the founder of the Workplace Bullying Institute. Learn what Unions can and should do when they receive a complaint about a bully. Learn what liability the Union has if nothing is done.
See past classes.