Offering Legal Counsel & Representation to Wisconsin Labor Unions Labor Contracts Protect Wisconsin Workers
The product of collective bargaining, the labor contract, is a written confirmation of employees’ wages, hours and conditions of employment. We believe labor contracts and the process leading to their creation have been the single-most effective public policy to secure the economic status of the middle class and lift others into it.
A labor contract’s duration is typically two to three years and it prevents arbitrary termination of employment, unilateral reduction of wages and benefits, and marginalization of the labor organization. We believe labor contracts and the process leading to their creation have been the single-most effective public policy to secure the economic status of the middle class and lift others into it. The only customary alternative to a collective bargaining agreement is “employment-at-will” – a legal relationship which the Wisconsin Supreme Court has said means that employer can terminate the relationship at any time, for any reason – good, bad or even no reason at all — just not an illegal reason. Employment-at-will is no substitute for a contract. We Continue to Advise Organized Labor After Act 10
Despite 2011 legislative efforts to end collective bargaining (Act 10), our public sector general employee unions have continued to request our representation in total base wage negotiations as well as our advice and counsel with regard to the scope and consequence of the Act 10 reforms on collective bargaining tactics and strategies. In addition, our firm represents public safety employees, Fire Fighters and Police Officers, who continue to enjoy robust collective bargaining rights, regularly request our representation during contract negotiations and, if necessary, in interest arbitration proceedings to resolve negotiating impasses. Similarly, our private sector clients request our advice with regard to legal strategies that leverage the collective bargaining process. We Help Labor Remain Influential & Relevant
Additionally, labor lawyers have years of experience advising and representing unions in grievance and interest arbitration proceedings to enforce and administer labor agreements. We believe that the hallmarks of arbitration – low cost, relatively quick decision and finality to litigation – benefit our union clients. We work with them to distinguish the cases that the unions’ professional staff can try effectively, competently and successfully, from those that may benefit from seasoned legal representation. We counsel our clients’ staff to this end and reduce the organizations’ legal cost in the process. In those cases that you may opt to employ our services, we are ready, experienced and aggressive in accomplishing our clients’ goals. If you are an officer or staff member of a union and are interested in legal advice, contact us if you would like to discuss your situation or legal rights with a Wisconsin labor attorney.
Please call a Madison labor attorney directly at (608) 257-0040 or a Milwaukee labor attorney at (414) 271-8650, or email us via our Contact Page.