Brought to you as part of the Terms & Conditions™ “Stay Ready” Series
Join Conn Maciel Carey for an engaging and interactive learning experience on employer rights and obligations under private sector labor law. With a focus on the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), this series will leave you better informed about your rights and responsibilities, empowered to protect your business interests, and equipped with tools to ensure positive employee relations and guard against unnecessary intrusions and disruptions to your operations. One common misunderstanding about the NLRA is that it only applies to employers with union-represented employees. The truth is the NLRA applies to most private sector employers, regardless of size, whether or not their employees are represented by a union.
CMC’s Labor/Employee Relations and Collective-Bargaining Masterclass Series is designed for in-house counsel, senior human resources leaders, and other key organizational leaders responsible for leading employee and/or labor relations or making decisions impacting employees’ terms and conditions of employment directly or indirectly. This Masterclass Series is not just training on the law; it is training designed and delivered to demystify complex legal concepts, equip you with practical application skills to develop strategies to impart to your organization’s leaders, from line-management to the C-Suite and Boardroom. Join us for this informative, interactive, and empowering learning experience where we will fully explore and demystify complex legal standards under the NLRA, share professional insights, and share tips for everyday practical applications, as well as high-stakes, complex business transactions.
Three-Part Series
Part 1: Uncovering Legal Landmines: What Employers Need to Know About Labor Law and Labor Relations
This program provides unionized and non-unionized employers a foundational overview of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and its role in enforcing the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Participants will learn how the NLRA applies in the workplace, the protections it provides employees engaging in concerted activities concerning terms and conditions of employment, and the obligations and rights of employers under the law. We will also explore the NLRB’s standard for evaluating the lawfulness of workplace rules such as employee handbooks and policies. Through real-world examples and case studies, this course will help employers understand their rights and responsibilities under the NLRA and best practices for ensuring compliance and informed decision-making in workplace relations.
Part 2: Stay Ready: Positive Employee Relations and Union Organizing
This program assists non-union or minimally unionized employers with examining workplace vulnerabilities and risks for union organizing as well as best practices for lawfully responding to organizing efforts. Participants will learn about fostering positive employee relations, as well as the many legal, operational and strategic processes in responding to a petition for representation or demand for recognition. We will also explore the impact of the NLRA on major business transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. In addition, participants will gain valuable insight into effective campaign strategies including lawful communications. Finally, participants will better understand the NLRB’s procedures for processing representation petitions and conducting union elections.
Part 3: Terms & Conditions: Collective-Bargaining, Contract Implementation and Administration
This program provides unionized employers with a comprehensive overview of the legal, business, and practical considerations for negotiating collective bargaining agreements including bargaining team composition, identifying priorities and defining bargaining parameters, responding to information requests, unfair labor practice allegations, and strike contingency planning and response. Participants will learn how to navigate the bargaining process, negotiate in good faith, and preserve their business interests and solid reputation. This course will also cover key aspects of contract implementation and administration including grievance processing, labor-management relations, and asserting management’s rights. Through practical guidance and anecdotal examples, employers will walk away informed, empowered, and energized about their labor relations and collective bargaining.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this master class series, business participants should:
- Have a sound understanding of federal labor law under the NLRA and how it impacts employee relations and business operations;
- Be able to identify legal issues and risks;
- Navigate complex labor and employee relations issues that implicate the NLRA;
- Know when to enlist the assistance of labor counsel; and
- Effectively assert their rights, protect their business interests, and manage their brand.
About The Presenters
Kara Maciel
Chair, Labor & Employment Group
Kara M. Maciel is a founding partner of Conn Maciel Carey and Chair of the firm’s national Labor Employment Practice Group. Kara provides advice and counsel to unionized and non-unionized workplaces regarding the employer’s rights under the National Labor Relations Act. She focuses her practice on representing employers in all aspects of the employment relationship. Kara serves as chief negotiator for management at collective bargaining negotiations and represents employers in union election campaigns and petitions. Prior to founding Conn Maciel Carey, she served as Chair of the Hospitality Employment and Labor Law Outreach Practice at an Am Law 200 firm.
Kara defends employers in litigation at both the federal and state levels, including matters related to the ADA, FLSA, FMLA, Title VII, and affirmative action/OFCCP regulations. When relevant, Kara provides advice and counsel to unionized and non-unionized workplaces regarding the employer’s rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
Letitia Silas
Partner, Labor & Employment Group
Letitia Silas is a Partner in Conn Maciel Carey’s national Labor Employment Practice Group. Letitia brings to the firm dynamic and rich legal experience in traditional labor and employment matters that span both the public and private sectors. Her background includes executive experience developing and leading the labor relations and collective bargaining strategy for the nation’s second largest public university system and experience investigating and trying complex labor law cases for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Letitia’s practice has a special focus on advising and defending unionized and non-unionized workplaces in traditional labor and employee relations matters, developing employee relations strategies, collective bargaining, policy development and review, and training and compliance.
Letitia helps businesses develop and drive effective strategies to manage complex labor and employee relations, ensure compliance with government mandates and regulations, mitigate legal and reputational risks, tackle legal charges, and establish and maintain a positive brand. Letitia also defends employers in matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), before the NLRB and other state and federal agencies.
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Participants can choose to sign up for select courses tailored to their organization, or they can sign up for the entire series, including all three courses, for a discounted rate. Each ticket includes admission for up to three participants from your organization.