NLRB & Unions
Overview
Locke Lord’s Labor Practice encompasses the entire spectrum of issues that involve employer relations with unions. From planning union avoidance strategies through the handling of union representation elections, Locke Lord attorneys have helped dozens of employers remain union-free. And if the employees are represented by a union, Locke Lord attorneys have helped our clients negotiate the best possible deal—whether at the bargaining table or “behind the scenes,” we help our client achieve its bargaining goals while avoiding any claim of an unfair labor practice. When Locke Lord has been engaged to handle unfair labor practice charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), our attorneys have a record of convincing the NLRB Regional Office to not issue a complaint or of securing a decision in the matter before the Administrative Law Judge for those cases in which a complaint was issued. Locke Lord attorneys also regularly advise clients on how to avoid and/or defend against union grievances, and we have handled hundreds of arbitrations with unions.
Locke Lord has depth of experience involving labor unions. We have two attorneys who each have over 30 years of handling the full gamut of matters under the National Labor Relations Act and the Labor-Management Relations Act, one attorney who has almost 20 years of such experience, and a number of other attorneys with 10 or more years of such experience.
Fortunately, it is rare for any of our clients to have a strike. When a union does call a strike, however, our attorneys help the client prepare for and defeat the union’s attempt to get more than the Company offered pre-strike. But strikes and lockouts should be the last resort. Locke Lord attorneys pride themselves on devising creative solutions to the battles that can occur between employers and unions in order to minimize disruption in the workplace and avoid being saddled with NLRB hearings, arbitrations or litigation that could not only cost tens of thousands of dollars, but could result in an outsider determining the employees’ terms and conditions of employment. Instead, Locke Lord attorneys strive to ensure that our clients retain the right to manage their operations, and we have had great success in doing so.
- Negotiated labor contracts with Steelworkers, Food and Commercial Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Teamsters, Machinists and other labor unions for employers in the food processing, electric utility, automotive parts, manufacturing, gas pipeline, utility and space industries.
- Arbitrated wrongful discharge, suspensions, and contract interpretation cases arising from collective bargaining agreements.
- Represented employers during labor strikes in picketing and strike violence litigation.
- Defended employers in numerous unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.
- Conducted union avoidance training for management personnel to keep their companies union free.
- For one of the largest hotels in Chicago, we secured an arbitration decision entitling the hotel to retain all increases in banquet service charges. If the Union had been successful in its challenge to the hotel's practice, the hotel was potentially liable for several million dollars in backpay. As a result of this arbitration victory, the Union was forced to drop grievances against at least three other prestigious hotels.
- Obtained arbitration awards on behalf of association of trucking contractors in grievances filed by Teamsters Union.
- Obtained Boys Markets injunction halting illegal work stoppage by the Elevator Constructors Union at a jobsite in Illinois.
- Represented hospitals in matters under the National Labor Relations Act, including union organizing drives, representation elections and unfair labor practice hearings.
- Advised and counseled building owners and property managers on labor matters related to union organizing and corporate campaigns.
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