Labor & Employment

Labor relations, personnel, and employment issues are both complex and costly, and impact cities on a daily basis. Flaherty & Hood, P.A. has the expertise to assist your city 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 cities on selecting and hiring employees; investigating misconduct, harassment, and discrimination; and proceeding with discipline and termination actions
• Conduct seminars for management and employees

Policy and Job Audits

• Draft, revise, and interpret policies, employee handbooks, administrative manuals, and job descriptions

Legal Compliance

• Review, interpret, and advise cities 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)
  • Data Practices Act
  • Open Meeting Law
  • Veterans’ Preference Act
  • Pay Equity Act

Labor Contract Negotiations

• Develop strategies and proposals
• Review labor contracts and recommend changes
• Represent cities in labor contract negotiations and mediations
• Compile and summarize data from comparable cities on wages, insurance, contract settlements, arbitrations and other data for use in negotiations

Employee and Union Grievances

• Investigate employee and union grievances
• Draft responses for cities
• Represent cities at grievance meetings and hearings

Labor Contract Interest and Grievance Arbitrations

• Represent cities in grievance and contract arbitration hearings
• Compile and analyze relevant information and data for use at such hearings, including arbitrator selection, ability to pay, and comparable cities analyses

Bargaining Unit Clarification

• Prepare responses to and filings with the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS)
• Represent cities at meetings, negotiations, mediations, and hearings

Notable Clients and Issues

• Coalition of Greater Minnesota (CGMC) and individual member cities