Convention & Seminar News, Updates

LRIS Seminar Attended by Local 2067

October 6, 2009 - The recent seminar attended by Butch Crawford & Nick Terhune proved invaluable as another source of information and education on labor law, grievance procedures, arbitrations, and union/management relations. (Labor Relations Information System...)

As reported from Nick Terhune from the seminar:

"The seminar that Butch and I went to was very informative. The primary speaker for this seminar was Will Aitchison a Portland, Oregon labor attorney. Mr. Aitchison was a well spoken individual, I was engaged the entire time he was speaking. Will started off with a description of what a grievance procedure was. Will’s lecture would later lead to timelines for filing grievances, who can file grievances, going to arbitration, and much more. Their were many things that I learned the first day of the seminar, for example pertaining to remedies concerning grievances whereas we ask for interest on the back pay monies.           

The second day was interesting because we viewed different cases that arbitrators have ruled on and we had the opportunity to see the decision. Several of these decisions play a particular role in issues that are occurring in local 2067 today. Mr. Aitchison talked extensively on past practice and how it pertains to our occupation. After past practice discussion we moved on to mandatory subjects of bargaining like; wages, hours of work, and terms and conditions of employment. Will Aitchison taught and expanded on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), he has actually written a book on it.          

On the second part of day two we had two attorneys come in from California one on the labor side and the other on management side. That’s what made this seminar interesting was that the crowd was compiled of union, management, and attorneys. The two speakers talked about the elements of just cause, and the different aspects it entails. They would give similar cases and try to justify their case; it was interesting to hear the management side of arguments.          

The last day of the seminar an actual arbitrator was their and she discussed cases and would actually split the room in two giving each side and opportunity to prove a case. An example would be like an overtime grievance where contract language wasn’t clear; we would have to consider things like past practice to prove our labor side. Margaret Brogan addressed the tools in resolving ambiguity in contract language.          

Throughout the seminar I obtained a tremendous amount of information and it is truly tough to describe it all in a short summary of events. I would always have questions at the breaks for Butch and he was very supportive in his responses. I would like to thank the union for going to get some members educated on these subjects and Butch for letting me tagalong."