Register for an individual presentation ($39) or the entire webinar series ($175).
Monday, October 26, 2020
The Basics of Grievances and Arbitration
8:30 PDT | 11:30 EDT | 90 Minutes
- A discussion of sample grievance procedure language.
- A discussion of what is “grievable” and what is not.
- The detail necessary on a grievance.
- Time limits in a grievance procedure.
- The advisability of grievance meetings rather than written processing.
- Selecting arbitrators.
- The basics of how an arbitration hearing is conducted.
- The finality of arbitration decisions.
- The relationship between grievance procedures, unfair labor practices, and lawsuits in court.
Will Aitchison, Attorney at Law, Public Safety Labor Group, LLP; Executive Director, LRIS.
Past Practices and the Status Quo Rule
11:00 PDT | 2:00 EDT | 90 Minutes
- The two ways that a past practice is important: In interpreting a collective bargaining agreement, and in limiting an employer’s ability to make changes in rules and operations.
- The continuing nature of the duty to bargain and how past practices can require mid-contract negotiations.
- The topics that are mandatory for bargaining, including hours of work issues, disciplinary standards and proceedings, “civilianization,” staffing, residency, and more.
- The elements that make a past practice binding, and the steps an employer must follow to make changes in past practices.
Will Aitchison.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
How an Arbitrator Looks at Grievances
8:30 PDT | 11:30 EDT | 90 Minutes
- When an arbitrator will look beyond the language of the contract to determine the meaning of the contract.
- The types of evidence considered in interpreting contracts, including bargaining history, past practice, and evidence of practices under other contracts.
- From an arbitrator’s perspective, the factors that make a past practice binding.
- The “interpretation aids” arbitrators use in interpreting and applying contract language.
- How arbitrators decide who has the burden of proof, and how much proof is necessary?
- The rules of evidence in arbitration, including issues of hearsay and relevance.
- The decision-making process – what’s convincing and what is not?
Margaret Brogan, Arbitrator and Mediator, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Social Media and Public Employees
11:00 PDT | 2:00 EDT | 90 Minutes
- The negotiability of social media rules.
- The First Amendment, labor law principles, and off-duty social media use.
- The types of social media speech likely to be protected and unprotected, and why.
- How arbitrators consider social media questions.
Anil Karia, Attorney at Law, Public Safety Labor Group, LLP.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Grievance and Arbitration Preparation Checklists
8:30 PDT | 11:30 EDT | 90 Minutes
- Detailed checklists that will help you prepare for filing and processing grievances and for arbitration hearings.
- What happens when a grievance is also a ULP?
- Framing the issue in disciplinary and “contract interpretation” grievances.
- The different tests for just cause for discipline, and how they apply in arbitration.
- Commonly occurring disciplinary issues, including the use of personnel files, investigatory files, and witnesses.
- What is an “information request,” and why must both sides comply with one?
- The relevance of bargaining history and prior arbitration awards.
Will Aitchison.
Register for an individual presentations or the entire webinar series.