Extensive Background

The firm has an extensive background in all areas of Pennsylvania school employment matters and public sector labor relations.

Attorneys Ira WeissJocelyn P. KramerMegan M. TurnbullAnnemarie K. Harr EagleNicole Williams, and Danielle Guarascio, handle labor and employment matters for our school, municipal, and special counsel clients.

Employment services include

  • advice regarding the interpretation, application, and implementation of employment statutes, including, but not limited to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the Family, and Medical Leave Act, and the Veteran’s Preference Act
  • reviewing, revising, and drafting employment policies and employment manuals
  • managing employee discipline matters
  • conducting employment investigations
  • defending clients against employment claims

Labor relations responsibilities include

  • collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance processing, labor arbitrations (including Act 88 and advisory arbitrations)
  • defending Unfair Labor Practice complaints at the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board
  • labor litigation in court, including injunctions
  • private sector clients in all phases of personnel issues including matters before the National Labor Relations Board and regulatory issues such as wage and hour matters and grievance arbitrations
  • representation of all levels of public sector employers in every aspect of labor relations, among them municipal governments, school districts of all sizes, including the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and county government

We Protect Your Interests

  • As chief negotiator in contracts involving teachers, support personnel, uniformed employees, road crews and prison guards
  • In hundreds of labor arbitration matters including contract interpretation, employee discipline and discharge cases
  • Through binding arbitration under Act 111 as well as mediation under Act 195 and Act 88
  • With employment contracts for management employees