Labor Relations

Our firm's labor practice originated with the representation of many of Connecticut's major manufacturers in union organizing campaigns and collective bargaining more than fifty years ago. We still work with many unionized employers, and assist in the negotiation of dozens of collective bargaining agreements each year. While the decline of manufacturing in the northeast has reduced the number of bargaining units in the industrial sector of our economy, the rise of unionization in the service sector has more than made up the difference.

In addition, since the passage of legislation in the 1960s authorizing collective bargaining by state and local government employees in Connecticut, we have developed what is widely regarded as the premier public sector labor relations practice in the state. Our representation of local and regional public school districts is so extensive that we have created a school law practice group to focus on those clients.

Our services to employers facing union-related issues involve matters such as: 

    • Union organizing campaigns and representation elections 
    • Collective bargaining and impasse resolution procedures 
    • Strikes, picketing, and other concerted activity 
    • Grievance and arbitration procedures 
    • Defense of unfair labor practice claims

Publications

January 18, 2012  NLRB Bars Waivers of Collective Action in Arbitration and Litigation
Fall 2011  Employment Law Letter
September 1, 2011  NLRB Requiring Posting of Employees' Rights
Summer 2011  Employment Law Letter
2011 Session  Employment Legislation Summary
Spring 2011  Employment Law Letter
Winter 2011  Employment Law Letter
Fall 2010  Employment Law Letter
August 9, 2010  Arbitration Processes In Need Of Reform
Summer 2010  Employment Law Letter
May 1, 2010  We Never Thought of That: 21st Century Issues That Make Most Employee Handbooks Obsolete
Spring 2010  Employment Law Letter
January 18, 2010  Investigating Wrongdoing By Elder Care Workers
Winter 2010  Employment Law Letter
Fall 2009  Employment Law Letter
Summer 2009  Employment Law Letter
Winter/Spring 2009  The 2009 Amendments to the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act Regulations
Spring 2009  Employment Law Letter
March 26, 2009  Connecticut FMLA Complicates Compliance With Federal Law
February 6, 2009  Concessions, Cuts and Public Sector Bargaining
January 2008  New FMLA Expansion
January 2008  Sending A Message About E-Mails
January 2008  E-Mail Policy Prohibiting “Non-Job-Related Solicitations” May be Enforced Against Union E-Mails
December 2007  Use of Expired or Undated Green Cards as U.S. Work Authorization Documents on Forms I-9’s
November 14, 2007  New Form I-9
September 27, 2007  Connecticut Supreme Court Clears Way For Truthful References
August 31, 2007  Hold Those Records or Else
August 24, 2007  Decisions on Caregivers to be Closely Examined by EEOC for Unlawful Stereotyping
2006  Model Employee Handbook for Nonprofits
Fall 2005  An Act Concerning Civil Unions
Spring 2005  Constructive Discharge in Sexual Harassment Cases: A Hopeless Situation for Employers?

Events

January 2012  Trends in Interest Arbitration
November 29, 2011  Highlights From Our Annual Labor & Employment Fall Seminar
April 28, 2011  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
April 26, 2011  FOIA: What Board, Commission & Committee Members Must Know
April 14, 2011  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Stamford, CT
April 12, 2011  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
February 10, 2011  FOIA: What Board, Commission & Committee Members Must Know
October 27, 2010  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
October 21, 2010  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Stamford, CT
October 15, 2010  Labor & Employment Fall Seminar
October 7, 2010  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
October 6, 2010  Winning Strategies for Collective Bargaining and Arbitration
September 24, 2010  Civil Rights - Developments and Degeneration, Diversity in the Face of Intolerance
September 10, 2010  Legal Updates
June 15, 2010  Effective Advocacy Before the Appeals Division
May 20, 2010  Investigating Employee Misconduct
April 29, 2010  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
April 23, 2010  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
April 15, 2010  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Stamford, CT
October 30, 2009  Labor & Employment Fall Seminar
October 15, 2009  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Stamford, CT
October 14, 2009  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
October 8, 2009  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
April 30, 2009  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Stamford, CT
April 14, 2009  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
April 7, 2009  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
March 6, 2009  The State of the State in Workers' Compensation: Dealing with SIF, AAGs, and GAB Robins
February 9, 2009  Connecticut Association of Nonprofits HR Forum
January 21, 2009  FOIA - What Police and Fire Departments Must Know
October 22, 2008  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
October 16, 2008  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Stamford, CT
October 15, 2008  Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Hartford, CT
October 19, 2006  Labor and Employment Department Fall Seminar
May 10, 2006  Connecticut Public Employer Labor Relations Association Annual Conference
July 21, 2005  Arbitration and Public Policy
© Shipman & Goodwin LLP, 2012. All Rights Reserved.