Labor Guild

Drafting Contract Language to Reduce Grievances with Mike Loconto
2026-03-18 18:00 - 2026-04-15 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Purpose of the Course:
The purpose of this course is to prepare contract negotiators to draft effective collective bargaining proposals. Grievances and costly arbitration’s often arise out of unclear contract language. Many locals and employers do not use attorneys to assist with drafting during the collective bargaining process, and sometimes disputes arise from ambiguous provisions.
By the end of this course, students will have tools to create durable outcomes at the table and reduce costs and uncertainty over the life of the contract.
Instructed by: Michael Loconto, Arbitrator and Mediator
Michael Loconto is a Boston-based arbitrator and mediator providing neutral, independent dispute resolution services for the modern workplace.
Arbitrator Loconto has trained with the American Arbitration Association and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Institute and has apprenticed under two members of the National Academy of Arbitrators in labor, employment and pension fund matters. He has experience in the public and private sectors with education, trades, construction PLAs, public safety, dining services, hospitals, and transportation, among other industries, and has handled a spectrum of discipline and discharge, contract interpretation, discrimination, substance abuse, pay and benefits matters. Arbitrator Loconto has two decades of practical experience, previously serving as an in-house counsel to a small college and a labor and employment relations leader for a large university and a major metropolitan city. He has worked with unions, managers and neutrals as a Labor and Employee Relations Association industry council leader and is the current President of Boston’s LERA Chapter. He has taught legal writing and research at Northeastern University School of Law and courses on contracts and bargaining at The Labor Guild.
Arbitrator Loconto conducts in-person or remote hearings nationally and internationally via the AAA (labor, employment and pension/ERISA matters), the Labor Relations Connection, FMCS, the National Mediation Board, and through more than two dozen state and local agencies. He is also a member of the Roster of Arbitrators with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (rail disputes) and hears consumer lemon law claims in Massachusetts and contract vendor disputes with the City of New York.
Please visit locontoadr.com or email mtl@locontoadr.com for further information.

The American Labor Relations System: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow with Dan Fogarty
2026-03-19 18:00 - 2026-04-23 18:00 | Virtual Event
Together, in this 5-week class you will learn about and discuss:

Key historical moments and recurring trends in American labor relations
Major labor legislation and the current legal framework underpinning collective bargaining
Rules and strategy for both bargaining and administering a union contract
The challenges and opportunities facing American labor relations today and into the future

Instructed by: Daniel Fogarty, Partner, Sandulli Grace P.C.
Daniel Fogarty is a partner at Sandulli Grace, P.C., where he has practiced since 2015. Dan is dedicated to representing unions and their members in a wide range of labor and employment matters. Through his hard work, Dan has obtained successful outcomes for his union clients in contract negotiations and interest arbitration, contract administration and grievance arbitration, and unfair labor practices before the Department of Labor Relations. He has also represented workers in matters concerning work-related injuries, disability retirement applications and appeals, professional licensure and certification matters, including matters before the Massachusetts POST Commission and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as appeals for unemployment assistance, discrimination claims, and wage and hour issues.
Before joining Sandulli Grace, Dan worked as a Labor Relations Trial Examiner at the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining, where he acted as a neutral decision maker in improper practice and representation cases between the City of New York and various municipal unions. While in law school, Dan also gained valuable experience working at a union-side law firm, Region 2 of the National Labor Relations Board, and the NYC Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.
Dan graduated cum laude from George Washington University with a B.A. in Philosophy and then went on to receive his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School where he was an active member of the Moot Court Honors Society. He is licensed to practice law in both Massachusetts and New York.

Union Meetings and Robert's Rules with Patti Legault-Frank
2026-05-05 18:00 - 2026-06-02 20:00 | Virtual Event
Whether you want to become a more effective and respected Chair, or a more confident and impactful participant, we’ll put Robert’s Rules Order to work to achieve more effective and democratic union meetings. We’ll review both the basics of Robert’s Rules of Order (making motions, debate, and voting). You will learn how Robert’s Rules of Order interfaces with your union’s bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, and past practice, as well as labor law. Other issues we will discuss will be special meetings, executive session, electronic meetings, rules for committees and small boards (yes, they are different from membership meetings!), members ex-officio, and more. You will also find the materials distributed in this course invaluable meeting tools as you attend or run your union meetings.

Improving Communication Skills with AI
2026-05-20 18:00 - 2026-06-03 20:00 | Virtual Event
Course Description:
As artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of modern work and daily life, the ability to communicate clearly and strategically with AI systems is an essential skill. This course equips learners with practical techniques for interacting with AI tools to achieve more accurate, relevant, and useful outcomes.
Students will explore how AI processes language, learn the principles of effective prompt design, and practice structuring questions and instructions to guide AI responses. The course covers key topics such as clarity, context-setting, iterative refinement, and critical evaluation of AI-generated content. Participants will also examine common pitfalls—like ambiguity and bias—and develop strategies to mitigate them.
Through hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios, learners will build confidence in using AI for tasks such as writing, research, problem-solving, and decision support. By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate with AI systems more efficiently, interpret outputs with a critical eye, and integrate AI into their workflows responsibly and effectively.
Learning Outcomes:

Craft clear, precise, and goal-oriented prompts
Guide AI responses through context and constraints
Evaluate and refine AI-generated outputs
Recognize limitations and ethical considerations in AI use
Apply AI communication skills across professional and personal contexts

Understanding, Reviewing, and Amending Bylaws with Patti Legault-Frank
2026-08-06 18:00 - 2026-08-27 20:00 | Virtual Event
Your Union Bylaws – Do you understand what they say? Do they say what they should? Are they thorough on local elections, trials and charges, and other governance issues? The bylaws, which are each member’s Bill of Rights or contract with the union, define the primary characteristics of the union, as well as the rights and duties of officers and members. This workshop will teach you to review, evaluate and amend your bylaws (if needed) with confidence and ease. The materials provided will be invaluable reference tools for anyone serving in a leadership role for their organization and are, responsible for meeting governance and legal requirements.
If you can’t answer these questions now, By the end of the class, you will be able to. If you cannot answer them now – YOU NEED THIS COURSE!!!

If there is an uncontested candidate for office, do the members still have to be allowed to vote?
If a member submits a bylaw amendment that the Bylaws Committee does not like, do they have to forward it to the members for voting?
The chairperson refuses to run the meeting by “the rules.” What are the possible consequences?
Do officers continue to serve if, at the end of their regular term, successors have not been elected?
Who is the ultimate authority in your union? — the members, the officers, or the executive board?
Who gets to interpret the bylaws? Are there guardrails for interpreting them?
If bylaws assign a duty or obligation to one party, can that party delegate it to someone else?
Can a board, committee, or membership meeting just decide to meet on a conference call or zoom instead of in-person?
What if the bylaws are silent on charges and trials? For officers? For members? How do you hold one?
When the bylaws are silent on elections, what rules are mandatory (labor law and Robert’s Rules)? / majority of plurality vote / uncontested elections / running for more than one office / holding more than one office / executive board members, trustees, sergeants-at-arms – are they officers?

Instructor: Patti Legault-Frank, Parliamentarian and Governance Specialist

Labor History- Power and Struggle with Dave Kowalski
2026-08-25 18:00 - 2026-09-29 20:00 | Virtual Event
Why You Need This Class
Every union member can benefit from understanding the history, challenges, and victories that shaped today’s labor movement. This class provides the foundation for understanding how workers organized to improve wages, benefits, workplace safety, and social justice. By examining the ongoing relationship between labor and management, participants gain valuable insight into the forces that continue to influence working conditions and workers’ rights. Understanding this history helps union members become more effective advocates, informed leaders, and active participants in their unions and communities.
Class Description
This class is a staple for every union member. It explores the history of unions and corporations, how they were formed, and how they evolved over time. Participants will examine labor’s struggle for fair wages, dignity, and social justice through multiple perspectives, including economic, political, judicial, and legislative lenses.
The course offers a unique perspective on the events, movements, and individuals that have shaped the labor movement and molded unions into what they are today. Through this historical and practical examination, participants will gain a greater appreciation for the sacrifices, achievements, and ongoing challenges facing working people and their organizations.
Instructor: Dave Kowalski, Retired President UWUA, Local 318

The History and Development of Collective and Individual Rights in the Workplace with Paul Kelly
2026-08-26 18:00 - 2026-09-16 20:00 | Virtual Event
Why You Need This Class
Understanding labor law is essential for union members, leaders, labor advocates, human resource professionals, and anyone interested in workplace rights. This class provides valuable insight into how workers’ rights have evolved and how labor laws continue to shape the modern workplace. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of collective bargaining, contract enforcement, dispute resolution, and the legal protections that support fair working conditions. Whether you are involved in labor relations, representing workers, or simply seeking to better understand the foundations of workplace rights, this course offers practical knowledge that can be applied in today’s labor environment.
The Four Classes Will Cover:

The relationship between restraints on trade and the right to strike; the legalization of economic pressure.
The constitutional challenges involving the obligation of contracts when states sought to regulate workplace conditions, including the development of statutory wage and overtime laws.
The development of the right to bargain collectively and the enforcement of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
The role of arbitration in the administration of CBAs, the enforcement of workplace rights, and the use of dispute resolution processes to address workplace conflicts.

By completing this course, participants will better understand the legal framework that protects workers, the historical struggles that shaped labor rights, and the practical tools available to resolve workplace disputes and strengthen collective representation.
Instructor: Paul F. Kelly, Segal Roitman, LLP

Public Sector Labor Law with Howie Lenow
2026-09-03 18:00 - 2026-10-01 20:00 | Virtual Event
I am pleased to once again offer a Labor Guild class focused on public sector labor law.
In this five-session class, we will explore the basic structure of public sector labor law in Massachusetts and how to make use of other statutory remedies to be a more effective public sector union officer or activist. I have attached a packet of publicly available documents that will serve as a guide for the substantive law that we will review and will hopefully serve as a reference for you after the class is completed. The outline of classes below is a general guide, but we will be flexible depending upon class interests and progress in each class.
Class One: The basics of the Massachusetts Collective Bargaining Statute, M.G.L. c. 150E.
Class Two: Information Wars: How to obtain information from public employers under the Mass. Public Records Act and M.G.L. c. 150E.
Class Three: The Constitutional Rights of Public Employees: Speech, Privacy and Due Process.
Class Four: Negotiations in the public sector.
Class Five: Grievances and Arbitration in the public sector.

Instructor: Howard B. Lenow, Founding Partner, Lenow & McCarthy

Hot Topics In Workplace Disputes
2026-09-14 18:00 - 2026-10-19 20:00 | Virtual Event
Hot Topics in Workplace Disputes – Meets Mondays, September 14 to October 19, 6-8 pm
The purpose of this course is to expose students to important developing issues that are facing employees and employers in the workplace today. Hear from experienced arbitrators about a wide range of issues, from making the decision to arbitrate, assessing just cause for discipline, the establishment of past practices, new leave laws, and First Amendment and social media disputes. We will use recent arbitration and court decisions to illustrate how decision makers reached an outcome. By the end of this course, students will have tools to provide better representation for their members and employers and reach better outcomes at and prior to arbitration.
Schedule:
Date Topic Presenters
Sept. 14 Solving Workplace Problems 1. Arbitrator E. Patrick McDermott, Maryland
—————————————————————–2. Arbitrator Gurvis Miner, New Jersey
Sept. 21 Just Cause 1. Arbitrator Rebekah Smith, Massachusetts
—————————————————————–2. Arbitrator Pete Hanlon, Ohio
Sept. 28 First Amendment and Social Media 1. Arbitrator Jeff Hartnett, New York
—————————————————————–2. Arbitrator Ken DeStefano, New York
Oct. 5 Leave Disputes 1. Arbitrator Emily Jackson, Alaska
—————————————————————–2. Arbitrator Heidi Parker, Maine
Oct. 19 Past Practice 1. Arbitrator Katie Rosen, Connecticut
—————————————————————–2. Arbitrator Tyler Andrews, Alaska

Basic Steward Training with Deb Sullivan
2026-10-06 18:00 - 2026-11-03 20:00 | Virtual Event
This 5-week course is designed to focus on BASIC Stewards training:

Expectations of a steward ~ What is a Steward anyway?
What you need to have ~ Resources necessary to do the job
Organizing vs Servicing ~ Attitude and approach to solution solving
Your rights and obligations as a steward ~ How to deal with management
Weingarten Rights~ How to investigate a grievance ~ dealing with members
Grievances ~ Writing, Investigating, and Presenting
Grievance Case study ~ Role play

Students should expect to actively participate in the discussions each week, bringing experiences, real time problems and ideas for solutions to the issues they face as stewards in their workplace. Copies of the contract the students are currently working with as well as copies of local union bylaws, constitutions, or any other governing documents should be available for students to check and use as a resource.
Instructed by: Deb Sullivan, Retired Associate Director of Labor Education~ Massachusetts Nurses Association

Catholic Social Teaching: Socio-Economic Justice with Monsignor Bryan Hehir
2026-10-07 18:00 - 2026-11-04 20:00 | Virtual Event
The course will provide a survey of Catholic Teaching in the 20th -21st centuries on selected issues of social and economic justice. The Catholic position is based on both the dignity of the person and the dignity of work. In light of these two themes, the course will address a spectrum of issues of social justice.
Instructor: Monsignor J. Bryan Hehir, Th.D., Secretary for Health and Social Services, Archdiocese of Boston

The Crisis of U.S. Healthcare with Katherine Isaac
2026-10-08 18:00 - 2026-11-05 20:00 | Virtual Event
The Crisis of U.S. Healthcare
Year after year, at the bargaining table, unions and employers face off over who will pay for the ever-escalating cost of health insurance. In this class, participants will examine how the current health care system works and who benefits. We’ll review and discuss the potential benefits, challenges, and economic impacts of a Medicare for All model for unions, workers, and our communities with a specific emphasis on Massachusetts. Enrollment is limited with preference for Massachusetts-based union members.
In Solidarity,
Katherine
Instructor: Katherine Isaac, Executive Director, Debs-Jones-Douglass Institute

Cushing-Gavin Awards, 2026
2026-12-04 18:00 - 22:00 | IBEW Local 103 Function Hall, 256 Freeport St #1, Dorchester, MA, 02122, United States
