Labor Relations

Overview

The Labor Relations Practice Group at Taylor English offers in-depth knowledge and effective representation skills for guiding and defending employers with union relationships and disputes. Team members bring national experience serving industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, retail, construction, entertainment, transportation, communications and the public sector. The group is also well-versed with every recognized labor organization, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), state agencies, federal and state trial and appeals courts, and grievance arbitration.

Managing long and short-term interactions with unions requires sensitivity and understanding the intentions of management and the labor force. Client objectives can vary from working creatively as a business partner to establishing long standing affiliation to simply avoiding being unionized. The team’s deep-rooted client relationships reflect a continued focus and dedication to fulfilling these goals.

The Labor Relations Practice Group support clients with the following services:

Advising on individual employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act
Collective bargaining
Union contract administration and interpretation
Grievances
Union organizing, recognition demands and NLRB elections
Defending unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB and federal courts
Assisting with responses to corporate “top down” organizing campaigns and social media attacks
Planning for and resolving strikes, picketing and boycotts
Common ownership of union and non-union facilities
Labor relations aspects of mergers and acquisitions
Supervisor and management training in labor relations law and practical concepts

The Labor Relations Practice Group assists management in responding to the variety of tactics used by unions today, such as social media campaigns, public opinion, news media and web-based communications. Communication plans focused on company employees and – if necessary – the general public are key parts of our strategic efforts. The Practice Group is experienced in effective messaging that also fully complies with applicable laws using websites, videos, social media, presentations, speeches, home letters and information signs.

Application and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements is included in the guidance that we provide to management, including discipline, hiring, seniority, work rules and discharge of employees in the union environment. Our attorneys continue as trusted advisors for management when operations are governed by collective bargaining agreements.

The team includes skilled litigators and strategic labor relations advisors who bring decades of experience with National Labor Relations Act practice, the Service Contract Act, the Davis-Bacon Act and the Occupational Safety & Health Act. Additionally, the group has a command of state labor relations law and regulations, the intersection of antitrust laws and labor relations, the unique issues of labor law in the construction industry and experience representing employers on key policy issues in amicus curiae appearances before agencies, federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.