UAC Bargaining Seminar: Education, Planning & Preparation = Better CBA Settlements
The value of a trade association is measured by its follow-through in delivering practical resources to its members. The PHCC was founded to serve and benefit all who belong. Our three "enhanced service groups" (Construction Contractors Alliance/CCA; Quality Service Contractors/QSC; and Union Affiliated Contractors/UAC) were furthermore formed and continue to evolve based on the premise that each "branch" deserves the added attention their distinct industry segment finds most useful. The UAC advocates for union contractors like you.
Under the direction of our Advisory Board (made up of dedicated member contractors and chapter execs), the UAC’s revitalized role as a Business Industry Group (BIG) has led us to determine that preparation for effective union contract negotiations is a priority for our signatory chapters. It’s among the most vital educational services the UAC can provide. If your aim is to build on your abilities at the bargaining table to reach the best settlements possible with your union colleagues, we urge chapters that engage in labor relations to send representatives to this seminar planned with you in mind – from substantial content to outstand-ing speakers, to a convenient Midwest location. The UAC is committed to offering perpetual and responsive bargaining guidance you can put to work for your chapter. We hope to see you in Bloomington!
Register here.
John Nesse
John Nesse is managing partner at the law firm of Management Guidance LLP and represents employers in labor relations matters nationwide. His practice includes the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, grievance-dispute resolution and arbitration, unfair labor practice proceedings, and counsel to contributing employers in matters related to Taft-Hartley multiemployer benefit plans. He pro-vides general counsel to 501(c)(6) employer associations on operations and governance matters, especially where the group or its participating employers have an organized labor relationship. John has led or advised in the negotiation of hundreds of collective bargaining agreements in numerous industries. He has particular experience working with multiemployer groups and serves as the lead negotiator for several large industry agreements covering thousands of employees. He has successfully negotiated first collective bargaining agreements, new agreements for employers who are potential successors under the National Labor Relations Act, mid-term concessions, and market recovery agreements. John serves as an employer-appointed professional trustee on Taft-Hartley multiemployer benefit trust funds and advises em-ployers and employer trustees on related issues. In addition to multiemployer plan issues, generally, Mr. Nesse has significant experience with the conversion of traditional defined benefit plans to variable benefit designs, modernizing health and welfare plan design, defined benefit pension plan withdrawal liability, and the interaction between collective bargaining agreements and related Taft-Hartley plans. John also has significant experience with state and federal regulatory matters. He has represented employers at the state legislature and in administrative matters, including agency rulemaking at both the state and federal levels. John has a strong academic interest in negotiations beyond his role as a practitioner. He is an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas – School of Law in Minneapolis where he teaches Negotiations to upper-level law and graduate business students. He regularly speaks to employer groups on collective bargaining negotiations. And he has served as a judge in the American Bar Association’s law student negotiation competitions at the local and regional levels.
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Session Name: Closing Session: Presenter Panel Discussion and Q&A
Role: Panelist -
Session Name: Doing Your Homework: Planning and Preparation by the Association for Bargaining
Role: Session Leader
Richard L. Samson
Rick has represented management in all aspects of labor and employment law for over 30 years with a particular emphasis on traditional labor law. He has also litigated cases before federal and state courts as well as state and local agencies in employment discrimination and wrongful discharge actions. He routinely advises clients on a host of employment-related issues including employer investigations, claims of harassment, employment policies and social media. In the traditional labor arena, his experience covers the gamut of issues arising under the National Labor Relations Act including matters affecting both unionized and non-union employers in litigation, trial work and day to day counseling. He is currently outside labor counsel to one of the nation’s largest steel producers with over 12,000 represented employees, and also represents multi-employer bargaining associations in their negotiations with several construction craft unions for labor agreements covering several thousand employees. He has experience in a variety of industries including construction, ready mix supply, material supply (aggregate mining), steel, light and heavy manufacturing, retail, food distribution, theatrical production, casinos, meatpacking and assisted living. He regularly appears on behalf of employers before the National Labor Relations Board in the defense of unfair labor practice charges and in representation cases. Over the course of his career he has handled such matters throughout the country in the Labor Board’s various regional offices including Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis, Oakland, New Orleans and Philadelphia. Rick has been an adjunct professor of law at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law where he taught a course on the law of employment relationships and established a seminar class on employee privacy rights.
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Session Name: Basics of Bargaining: Refresher for Previous Association Negotiators and Introduction for Beginners
Role: Session Leader -
Session Name: Closing Session: Presenter Panel Discussion and Q&A
Role: Panelist -
Session Name: Beyond Bargaining Basics: A “Nuts & Bolts” Overview of Negotiations in a Multi-Employer Setting
Role: Session Leader
Christina Wernick
Christina joined Laner Muchin in 2021 and represents unionized employers in collective bargaining, grievance proceedings, arbitration and benefit contribution litigation. Christina is an experienced negotiator and regularly assists clients with the resolution of grievance actions, collective bargaining agreements, project labor agreements, prevailing wage issues, jurisdictional disputes, key man agreements, and local wage and hour complaints. She has extensive experience advancing and defending claims in Federal and State Court, before Joint Grievance Boards and Arbitration Panels, and before the National Labor Relations Board. Christina also counsels clients on a range of subjects including day-to-day labor-management issues, employee relations issues, and employee benefit contribution compliance. Christina conducts training for clients on a variety of labor and employment topics and performs independent employee-related corporate investigations. Prior to joining Laner Muchin, Christina spent her career representing a prominent Chicagoland construction union and its multi-employer fringe benefit funds. In her role as in-house counsel, she advised on a range of matters specific to the construction industry.
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Session Name: Closing Session: Presenter Panel Discussion and Q&A
Role: Panelist -
Session Name: Understanding the Union’s Goals and Priorities in Contract Negotiations
Role: Session Leader