Labor relations, personnel and employment issues are both complex and costly, and impact local governments on a daily basis. Flaherty & Hood, P.A. has the expertise to assist your local government with all facets of public labor and employment law, and the skill to provide efficient, cost-effective solutions.
Services
Representation
- Provide representation during mediation, arbitration, hearings, litigation and appeals
Advice
- Advise local governments on hiring, misconduct, harassment, improving performance, discrimination, discipline and discharge actions and reorganizing positions, departments, and agencies
- Conduct training sessions for management and employees on labor and employee relations issues
Investigations
• Investigate personnel misconduct, performance problems, harassment, and discrimination
Policy, Procedure and Job Audits
- Review, draft, revise, and interpret personnel policies, employee handbooks, administrative manuals, job descriptions, hiring and discipline procedures and performance appraisal systems
Legal Compliance
- Review, interpret, and advise local governments on compliance with employment laws including, but not limited to:
- Public labor relations laws (PELRA, NLRA)
- Discrimination laws (Title VII, ADEA, ADA, MHRA)
- Wage and hour laws (FLSA)
- Health and benefits laws (FMLA, PERA)
- Minnesota Government Data Practices Act
- Minnesota Open Meeting Law
- Veterans’ Preference Act
- Pay Equity Act
Labor Contract Negotiations
- Develop strategies and proposals
- Review labor contracts and recommend changes
- Represent local governments in labor contract negotiations and mediations
- Compile and summarize data from comparable local governments on wages, insurance, contract settlements, arbitrations and other data for use in negotiations
Employee and Union Grievances
- Investigate employee and union grievances
- Draft responses and settlements for local governments
- Represent local governments at grievance meetings and hearings
Labor Contract Interest and Grievance Arbitrations
- Represent local governments in arbitration hearings
- Compile and analyze relevant information and data for use at such hearings, including arbitrator selection, ability to pay and comparable local governments analyses
Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) Proceedings
- Prepare filings for the BMS and represent units of government at meetings, pre-hearings, mediations, and hearings related to:
- Strikes
- Exclusive representative certification, decertification, and determination of affiliation
- Unit determinations and clarifications
- Fair share fee challenges
- Independent review
Notable Clients and Issues
- Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC)
- Dozens of individual cities, including but not limited to the cities of Crookston, East Grand Forks, Fergus Falls, Glencoe, Grand Rapids, La Crescent, Marshall, Melrose, Moorhead, Owatonna, Sartell, Staples, Thief River Falls, Waite Park, Warren and Winona
