Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining

Our Professionals:

Steve Ray | Eric Paltell | Amy Smith | Darrell VanDeusen | Ramana Briggs

What are “Labor Relations”?

Labor Relations refers to advising and representing employers of all sizes in connection with union representation campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations, labor arbitrations, and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board. Our Firm lawyers have substantial experience advising and representing employers of all sizes regarding union representation campaigns, collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations, labor arbitrations, and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.

What is “Collective Bargaining”?

Collective Bargaining is a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of workers’ compensation and rights for workers.

Isler Dare represents local governments, school divisions, private employers, colleges, and universities in collective bargaining and related labor relations matters. We advise employers regarding union organizing efforts, first and successor contract negotiations, grievances and arbitrations, impasse proceedings, and unfair labor practice charges.

In the public sector, our attorneys have been heavily involved in the implementation of collective bargaining legislation. In Virginia, we have advised a number of local governments and school divisions on the drafting of collective bargaining ordinances and resolutions, and we have negotiated most of the first contracts governing public sector employees in the Commonwealth. In Maryland, we have counseled many higher education institutions regarding labor law and negotiated many collective bargaining agreements. We also handle impasse proceedings, grievance arbitrations, and prohibited practice proceedings in both jurisdictions.

In the private sector, we have represented employers throughout the United States in NLRB representation cases, contract negotiations, unfair labor practice charges, and grievance arbitrations. We also train and advise both unionized and non-unionized employers on their obligations, rights, and options when faced with union organizing activity and assist employers seeking to enter into “neutrality agreements” with labor organizations.

Our Firm also has experience providing legal counsel and strategic guidance on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) to both public and private sector clients. We have worked closely with clients to negotiate new agreements, resolve disputes, and ensure compliance with applicable labor laws.

In conjunction with the Firm’s employee benefits team, our attorneys are experienced in negotiating union pension and health and welfare benefits in collective bargaining agreements and addressing issues that arise for employers during the term of a contract, including withdrawal liability.