Wednesday, February 3, 2027

9:00 Introduction And Recent Developments In Public Safety Labor Relations

Kick off the seminar with a fast-paced, up-to-the-minute roundup of legal, political, and economic developments shaping the public safety labor landscape. This flagship session covers what union leaders and labor professionals need to know now – and what’s coming next.

Content is updated continuously to reflect the most relevant issues. Topics typically include:

• The latest trends in public safety wages, benefits, and contract settlements.
• How politics, staffing shortages, and economic uncertainty are reshaping bargaining.
• Legislative developments impacting police, fire, corrections, and EMS employees.
• New frontiers in surveillance and privacy – from bodycams to AI to personal devices.
• Game-changing decisions and rulings, from the Supreme Court to local arbitration.

Speaker: Richard Poulson, Executive Director, LRIS 

12:00 Lunch (included in registration)

1:00 First Things First – Political Action And Messaging in Bargaining

• Why Politics Comes First – How political relationships and public messaging lay the groundwork for successful negotiations.
• Lessons From The Front Lines – Real-world strategies from union leaders on turning political influence into bargaining power.
• Building Your Narrative – Crafting messages that resonate with elected officials, the media, and the public—and support your bargaining goals.

Speakers: Stuart Davidson, Partner, Willig, Williams & Davidson, Philadelphia, PA
Joe Jones, President, IAFF Local 624, San Antonio, TX
Scott Moseley, President, FOP Lodge 31, Fort Lauderdale, FL

4:00 Adjournment

4:15 Hosted Reception

Thursday, February 4, 2027

9:00 Preparing For Negotiations

• Building a Winning Strategy – Key components of a proactive negotiation approach.
• Structuring the Bargaining Team – Roles, responsibilities, and internal coordination.
• Organizing Negotiations – Managing timelines, documentation, and tactical planning.

10:00 Comparability Strategies In Bargaining

• How to Choose – Selecting and excluding jurisdictions to strengthen your position.
• Total Compensation Analysis – Evaluating wages, benefits, and other economic factors.
• Internal vs. External Comparisons – Knowing when each is most persuasive.

11:00 Contract Drafting: CBA Language & Proposals

• Precision in Drafting – How to craft clear, enforceable contract provisions.
• Avoiding Legal Pitfalls – Common mistakes and how to prevent them.
• Clarifying Ambiguous Language – Strengthening agreements without unintended consequences.

Speakers: Brett Schneider, Partner, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole, Boca Raton, FL 
Richard Poulson, Executive Director, LRIS

12:00 Lunch (included in registration)

1:00 Negotiation Conduct: At & Away From The Table

• Setting Ground Rules – Creating a productive, professional bargaining environment.
• Tracking Progress – Effective documentation and proposal tracking methods.
• Caucuses & Sidebars – When to use them and what to watch out for.
• Difficult Personalities – How to address obstacles at and away from the table.

2:30 Closing The Deal: Ratification & Implementation

• Finalizing Agreements – Ensuring all details are properly documented and understood.
• Communicating with Members – Strategies for securing buy-in and ratification.
• Political Action & Advocacy – Supporting contract adoption through legislative and public engagement.
• Understanding Dispute Resolution – Mediation, arbitration, and fact-finding options.

Speakers: Richard Poulson and Brett Schneider

4:00 Adjournment

Friday, February 5, 2027

8:30 Bargaining On Today’s Economy

• Economic Indicators & Projections – Understanding CPI trends and other key factors.
• Inflation & Wage Growth – Why cost-of-living adjustments are critical in negotiations.
• The Bigger Picture – How broader economic trends shape bargaining leverage.

9:30 The Importance Of Ability To Pay

• Financial Condition Analysis – How to assess and understand an employer’s fiscal position.
• Framing the Argument – Explaining ability-to-pay issues across a table or to a neutral third party.

10:30 Comparability Strategies At Impasse

• Role of Comparability in Impasse – Leveraging wage and benefit comparisons as a central argument in bargaining or at impasse.
• Costing Out Proposals – Breaking down union and employer offers with hard data.

Speaker: Jeremy Crimmel, Economist, Crimmel Economic Consulting

11:30 Adjournment