Summer in Review: Secrets of Arbitration Workshop

By Will Silverman, Father Edward F. Boyle, S.J. Summer Fellow

As part of the Labor Guild’s Workshop Series, we were pleased to facilitate the Secrets of Arbitration, a seminar class that took place at the New England Joint Board UNITE HERE in Boston, MA. Thanks to Susan R. Brown (CGA ‘99) and Shelley Kroll (CGA ‘14), the workshop provided a unique view of arbitration from two true professionals. Whereas Kroll approached the topic from her perspective as an attorney from Segal, Roitman LLP, Brown integrated her knowledge through the lens of the arbitrator.To provide an understanding of how collective bargaining agreements operate through arbitration, the class walked the students through the “do’s and don’ts” of preparing one’s grievances for dispute resolution. The workshop began with an introduction to the distinction between arbitration and mediation, arbitral authority, and contract language. Thereafter, Brown and Kroll discussed the meaning, history, and evidence behind just cause from an advocate’s and arbitrator’s view, respectively. Once these experts examined past practices and management’s rights, the workshop culminated in tackling case study scenarios in addition to the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.Seven students completed the Secrets of Arbitration Labor Guild Workshop. These participants came from UWUA Local 369, MWRA, USWU 8751, USWU 9360, AFSCME 944, and Northeastern University School of Law.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2019 issue of Labor Life.