Representation of Local and International Labor Unions
In addition to representing local and international labor organizations in labor negotiations and related matters, our attorneys also routinely advise and counsel our clients on administration of their collective bargaining agreements and otherwise fulfilling their obligations to their members. Often, this involves representation before the National Labor Relations Board, Public Employment Relations Board, the Los Angeles County Employee Relations Commission, other federal and state agencies, contractual arbitrators, and, of course, in state and federal courts. Because of our experience and expertise, we are often asked to advocate for our clients in collective bargaining and are well versed in all “cutting edge” issues that arise in the bargaining arena. The firm also participates in mediation and interest arbitration on behalf of our clients.
The firm’s practice often includes advice and counsel to its clients regarding union organizing drives to help increase membership and improve working conditions for all employees. All the firm’s attorneys believe that labor unions and those who support them have a responsibility to improve the lives of working people. Every day, our attorneys and dedicated support staff work diligently toward a single goal: to serve the cause of working people with quality, innovative legal representation.
For close to three decades, the firm has successfully represented our clients’ interests in virtually every major private sector labor dispute, arising in Southern California, in a wide variety of industries from grocery to entertainment. When it has proven necessary, we have actively worked with our clients in planning for and implementing successful boycotts, handbilling, and, as a last resort, work stoppages, on a local and national level. This includes drafting handbills; training picketers and handbillers on their constitutional rights; defending injunctive actions against picketing, or other related activity; preventing unlawful interference with protected, concerted activity, and; handling post-strike litigation.
Representation of Taft-Hartley Trust Funds and Employee Benefits Law
The firm maintains a strong Taft-Hartley trust fund and employee benefits practice, including ERISA compliance, prevailing wage, and collection matters. The firm routinely and effectively guides its trust fund clients and trustees through the maze of complex laws and regulations affecting employee benefits and assists them in maintaining fiduciary standards.
Our trust fund attorneys draft plan documents and summary plan descriptions, and constantly review these documents to ensure compliance with legal changes, preparing amendments and seeking regulatory approval as needed. The firm serves as counsel and co-counsel to large multi-employer benefit plans providing both health and welfare and pension benefits to thousands of employees and their dependents. Our trust fund attorneys handle a wide range of complex ERISA litigation, including prosecution of actions for breach of fiduciary duty and prohibited transactions. These attorneys regularly lecture at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
Other Areas of Practice and Special Interest
The firm strongly believes that individual employment rights should be strictly enforced in the workplace, and that such rights are as important for the betterment of society as the maintenance of civil rights generally. To this end, the firm routinely provides referrals to attorneys not directly affiliated with the firm, but who have long-standing relationships with the firm and special expertise in the protection of individual employment rights such as employment discrimination, wage and hour matters, workers’ compensation for on-the-job injuries, and personal injuries caused by third parties.
We are proud of our long-standing association with Lawrence O. Silver, Esq. of Goldschmid Silver & Spindel, http://www.gsscomplaw.com (213) 251-5900. A certified specialist in workers’ compensation law who has represented injured workers for more than twenty (20) years, Mr. Silver has been a true friend of labor throughout his professional career. He and his partners work tirelessly on behalf of injured workers and always gain for their clients the maximum benefits to which they are entitled. With our assistance, Mr. Silver often provides steward training to our labor organization clients, advising workers of their latest rights to a safe and healthful workplace.
Equally important is the firm’s long-standing association with Joel Krissman, Esq. of Stolpman, Krissman, Elber & Silver, LLP, (562) 435-8300. Mr. Krissman and his partners have successfully represented injured workers and consumers for over thirty (30) years, as well as our clients’ members who have suffered devastating injuries or wrongful death, both at the workplace and away. This highly rated law firm will investigate and prosecute civil injury lawsuits due to the negligence of others or their defective products and unsafe conditions. Mr. Krissman has been awarded the prestigious trial lawyer of the year by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and has been repeatedly recognized by The Los Angeles magazine and The Best Lawyers in America as a top trial attorney. The firm maintains an “AV” rating in Martindale-Hubbell legal directory, the highest rating available for California attorneys. We continue to encourage and assist his efforts on behalf of working people.