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| cle homepage > 35th annual workshop for public sector labor relations specialists | |
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35th Annual Workshop for Public Sector Labor Relations Specialists Saturday, May 3, 2008 This annual program is designed to familiarize labor relations practitioners with current trends in collective bargaining and other issues affecting public employees. Featuring: Speaker: On November 14, 2007, the legislature enacted Chapter 145 of the Acts of 2007 abolishing the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration and the Labor Relations Commission and instead created a new Division of Labor Relations – vested with jurisdiction over unfair labor practice charges and petitions for conciliation and arbitration. The Joint Labor Management Committee retained its unique structure within the Division. The legislation was filed by Governor Patrick to maximize the use of existing labor relations resources and to professionalize the management of the new agency by appointing a Director to oversee the agency’s performance. The new legislation created a thirteen member Advisory Council charged with reviewing candidates for the positions of Director and Board member and submitting their names to the Governor as well as advising the Division about its policies and practices. The Chair of the Advisory Council and the Acting Director of the Division will discuss the challenges facing the new agency, its efforts to alleviate the backlog, and an update on recent decisions and pending appeals. George Noel, Director, Department of Labor John B. Cochran, Esq. Michael Byrnes, Esq. Health insurance premium increases continue to be a major cost obstacle influencing labor negotiations. In July, the Legislature enacted c. 67 of the Acts of 2007, which amended M.G.L. c. 32B, sec. 19. The law now allows local cities and towns to enter into coalition bargaining with public employee committees over whether to enroll employees in the health insurance plans offered by the Group Insurance Commission. Practitioners who have experience negotiating through coalition bargaining, both to transfer plans to the GIC and to make other changes in health insurance plans, will provide practical advice about the best strategies to use when negotiating these changes. A health insurance expert and representative from the GIC will help demystify the differences in coverage under various health insurance plans and explain the operations of the GIC, as well as the advantages of transferring to the GIC’s plans. Carol Chandor Ken Donnelly John Dunlap Dolores L. Mitchell Amy Laura Davidson, Esq. Peter J. Berry, Esq. Marc D. Greenbaum, Esq. |