2018 Summary of Classes

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM

The Future of Worker Advocacy

(David Rolf, President of SIEU 775 and author of “The Fight for $15: The Right Wage for a Working America”)

In this plenary session, David Rolf, author of the recent book The Fight for $15: The Right Wage for a Working America (New Press) and president of SIEU 775 in Seattle will speak about his experiences organizing campaigns that won $15 wages in SeaTac and Seattle, and future forms of worker power in the U.S.

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM

Employment and Labor Law Update

(Rick Liebman, Barran Liebman, LLP.)

An overview of major developments in case law that apply to Union members.

Employment Relations Board Update

(Lisa Umscheid, Jennifer Sung, Oregon Employment Relations Board)

For anyone in the public sector or anyone with bargaining units in the public sector, this class is essential. Learn from the ERB what to use ERB for and how. Also get an update on new developments in ERB case law.

National Labor Relations Board Update

(Jessica Dietz, Officer in Charge, NLRB Subregion 36-Portland)

Learn about recent important NLRB decisions from the past year. This is also an opportunity to ask questions of the Officer in Charge of the Portland Subregion and learn about how to be successful before the NLRB.

Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation System

(Jennifer Flood, Ombudsman for Injured Workers)

Jennifer will give you an overview of the Workers’ Compensation system, including the entire claims process from injury to closure.  She’ll explain how to avoid some of the most common problems workers experience with the system, and where to turn for help if issues arise.

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Comprehensive Campaigns

(Caren Sencer, Ombudsman for Injured Workers)

Sometimes unions need to combine many different tactics to win organizing victories, including conventional labor organizing, community activism, corporate research, and political leverage. Caren Sencer will guide you through the techniques and legal strategies used in effective comprehensive campaigns.

Organize And Resist

(David Rosenfeld, Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld)

David Rosenfeld is a master of advising unions on cutting-edge organizing strategies. Back by popular demand, this class will feature strategies for using First Amendment and other protections to engage in resistance and protest in the Trump Era. He will also address ways labor can pursue legislation and other strategies at the state level to challenge anti-union forces.

Family Medical Leave Act/Oregon Family Leave Act

(Liz Joffe, McKanna Bishop Joffe LLP)

The Family Medical Leave Act and The Oregon Family Leave Act both provide important rights to Union members. These laws are also important to know in helping the unorganized. Learn the basics of these laws as well as recent changes that have been enacted.

Legislation Affecting Unions and Union Members

(Margaret Olney, Bennett Hartman Morris & Kaplan LLP)

Get up to speed with new Oregon laws, initiatives, and legislative efforts that may impact workers, ranging from pro-worker legislation to anti-worker initiatives. Margaret will guide you through the quickly changing legislative landscape.

1:30 PM – 2:20 PM

Washington’s New Sick Leave Law

(Allison Drake, Elizabeth Smith, Washington Department of Labor & Industry)

Starting January 1, 2018, Washington’s Initiative 1433 requires employers to provide most employees with paid sick leave.  Learn about how this new law works from the experts—Department of Labor and Industries’ Fraud Prevention and Labor Standards division.  This class will also cover the important sick leave rules that implement the new law, which covers recordkeeping and reporting requirements regarding sick leave, procedures for employer notification of employees, protection against retaliation for sick leave use, and enforcement mechanisms.

Oregon’s Fair Scheduling Law

(Noah Scott Warman, McKanna Bishop Joffe LLP)

Oregon has recently passed the first-in-the-nation law guaranteeing fair scheduling and adequate notice for employees of large businesses in the retail and hospitality sector. Learn about the details of these important new worker protections, and how to bargain new contact language in light of this statute.

1:30 PM – 3:20 PM

Collective Bargaining – First Contract

(Stacy Chamberlain, Collective Bargaining Director and Jennifer Chapman, Counsel—Oregon AFSCME)

With a focus on the stages of bargaining and actual bargaining strategies, Stacy and Jennifer will explore both legal principles and practical perspectives in this in-depth classed focused on how to get to a first contract.

Offensive Bargaining

(David Rosenfeld, Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld)

Many employers give Unions short shrift in response to information requests. Others simply march toward impasse. Too often unions do not have a big-picture strategy that will assist them in their negotiations. Learn from the person who wrote the book on how to avoid an impasse, prevent employers from withdrawing recognition, and achieve a fair contract.

2:30 PM – 3:20 PM

Using State and Local Legislation in the Absence of Federal Leadership

(Caren Sencer,  Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld)

Caren will highlight creative laws at the state and local level that can be used to jumpstart organizing and help unions build power.  Learn from the innovations in local legislation from around the country.

Arbitration: From Grievance to Hearing

(Shirin Khosravi, SEIU Local 503, LLP)

How does a Union investigate and assess a grievance to determine whether to pursue it and how does the Union prepare a meritorious grievance for arbitration? Shirin will cover the nuts and bolts of grievance handling, from investigation and of the grievance to how to select an arbitrator and prepare witnesses and documents for arbitration, and identify some of the most common pitfalls to avoid.

3:30 PM – 4:20 PM

Oregon and Washington Wage and Hour Basics

(Karen Moore, Schuck Law, LLC)

Having represented thousands of workers in Oregon and Washington, Karen will teach you the basics of federal and state wage and hour law, including minimum wage, overtime, meal and rest breaks, wage deductions, and other important topics for represented and non-represented workers.

Internal Organizing

(Liz Morris, Oregon Nurses Association)

The health of the labor movement depends on organizing, both internal and external. Liz has done both, and trained union leaders at a national level. She will explain how to bring an organizer’s mindset to representing members and building power within the union.

Wellness and the Health Care Perspective

(Sherman Henry, LERC, University of Oregon)

Join LERC Labor Educator and former union leader Sherman Henry to explore innovative ways to use a wellness approach to build union membership in a voluntary dues culture. Sherman will discuss ways to bargain contract provisions around wellness and make health and welfare trusts more responsive to members’ wellness goals. He also welcomes input from participants with their
own ideas in this area, as he develops this framework for unions in the Northwest.

Arbitration: From the Arbitrator’s Perspective

(Howell Lankford, Arbitrators; Norman Malbin, Moderator)

Howell and Katie have combined the experience of over fifty years. They will discuss the mistakes that union advocates make. Learn from the mistakes that others make. Watch Norman have fun with two arbitrators.