The Oregon Labor Law Conference is a yearly gathering that brings together union staff and leadership from around the Northwest to learn about cutting-edge labor law and build a stronger labor movement. The conference provides training on grievance handling and arbitration, collective bargaining, organizing workers, union governance, legislation, and worker rights.
Founded over 20 years ago by former IBEW Local 48 general counsel Norman Malbin, the conference is created by and for the labor movement. The conference features leading legal practitioners from Oregon, the Northwest, and the nation for a day of dynamic sessions and practical advice, followed by a social gathering to build bridges within the labor movement. The conference sells out every year, and registration is on a first-come, first served basis, so register now.
We hope to see you in January next year.
–Lillian Killen, John Bishop, Noah Barish, Diana Winther
Conference Co-Planners
Conference Details
Oregon Labor Law Conference
Conference Date:
Friday, January 29, 2027
Registration:
Times:
7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. – Registration
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Conference
4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Social Hour
Location:
IBEW Local 48 Meeting Hall
15937 NE Airport Way
Portland, OR
Cost:
$100 per participant
More Information:
ollc@mbjlaw.com
503-821-0957
Includes: Breakfast, lunch, and hosted reception.
If you have any questions or special dietary requests for lunch, please contact Lynne Fergusson at 503-821-0957 (or ollc@mbjlaw.com).
Note: Materials will be available prior to the conference for download.
2027 OLLC Agenda
| IBEW Local 48 | NECA/IBEW Training Center | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting Hall | Center Auditorium | Room 1/2 | Room 5 | |
| 7:30 - 8:30 am | Registration | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 8:30 - 9:00 am | Welcome Conference Organizers Opening Remarks: Graham Trainor Oregon Labor Federation | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 9:00 - 9:50 am | Keynote: Building Worker Power Beyond the NLRA Lynn Rhinehart EPI Charles Du, SEIU 32BJ | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 10:00 - 10:50 am | Strategy Focus: Organize and Resist David Rosenfeld | Bargaining Focus: Bargaining to Protect Vulnerable Workers Caren Sencer | Planning an Organizing Campaign: How the Law Fits In Sarah Moe & Lane Toensmeier | Union and Labor Leader Liability Insurance Tina Fletcher, Ullico Casualty Group Krista Cordova, Moderator |
| 11:00 - 12:20 pm | Strategy Focus: Comprehensive Campaigns in the Public and Private Sectors Rich McCracken | Bargaining Focus: Bargaining Over AI David Rosenfeld | Oregon ERB Update Adam L. Rhynard, Chair, and Members Shirin Khosravi & Benjamin O'Glasser | Steward Training Mark Brenner |
| 12:30 - 1:20 pm | Lunch and Keynote Jessica Giannettino Villatoro, Deputy Labor Commissioner, BOLI. | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1:30 - 2:20 pm | Strategy Focus: Union Communications Rich McCracken | National Labor Relations Board Update Brenna Wolfe, NLRB Region 19 Field Attorney | Building Trades Focus: Project Labor Agreements Dan Hutzenbiler | NLRB Focus: Law and Strategy Developments Caren Sencer |
| 2:30 - 3:20 pm | Leave Laws Elizabeth Joffe | Grievance Focus: Ask Me Anything! Barbara Diamond and Dorothy Foley | Building Trades Focus: Prevailing Wage Allen Smith | NLRB Focus: Board Update & Practice Brenna Wolf, NLRB Region 19 Field Attorney |
| 3:30 - 4:20 pm | Free Speach in the Workplace Sarah Drescher | Whistleblower Law Emily Templin Fox | Identifying and Responding to Sexual Harassment Talia Yasmeen Guerriero and | Roundtable: Building Worker Power Beyond the NLRA Lynne Rhinehart, EPI Charles Du, SEIU 32BJ |
| 4:30 - 6:00 pm | Social Hour |