The Law Office of Kirsten Doolittle, P.A.

Representing Labor Unions

 

Our firm has significant depth of experience in representing labor unions.  We have assisted labor unions in nationwide organizing campaigns of workers that traditionally were classified as independent contractors.  We have worked with the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in drafting legislation to protect certain workers’ rights.  We have defended labor organizations in federal court.  We have worked with the NLRB in processing unfair labor practice charges.  We have provided general advice to labor unions and their officers.

Set forth below are some of the specific legal services our firm can provide labor unions.

 

NLRB Proceedings

 

Arbitration

 

Organizing Campaigns and Elections

 

Taft-Hartley Fund (Union Trustees)

 

DOL Reports

 

 

NLRB Proceedings

 

As labor unions know all too well, once an unfair labor practice charge (“ULP”) is filed with the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”), or with the Regional Director’s (“RD”) office of the relevant jurisdiction, an investigator is sent from the RD’s office to investigate the allegations contained in the charge.  Our office has found that active participation by counsel from the investigation through the hearing often leads to more satisfactory results for the charging party.

 

Our office can provide counsel to labor unions and their members in the following stages of NLRB proceedings:

 

· Filing a charge

· Amending the charge

· Participating in the Board’s investigation of the charge

· Amending the complaint

· Assisting NLRB counsel in preparation for hearing (i.e., pretrial motions, discovery (though limited), prehearing conferences)

· Participating in hearing before ALJ

· Submitting post-hearing briefs to ALJ

· Submitting exceptions to ALJ’s decision to the NLRB

· Appealing adverse decisions to the NLRB

· Negotiating settlements

 

Arbitrations

 

Our firm represents labor organizations and their members in arbitrations concerning violations of  collective bargaining agreements as well as grievance procedures.

 

Organizing Campaigns and Elections

 

Our firm has provided legal advice and representation to labor unions conducting nationwide organizing campaigns.  We understand the need for creative solutions when dealing with employers that are resistant to a unionized work force.  We also understand the need for and importance of quick intervention by the courts when an employer interferes with its employees’ Section 7 rights.

 

Taft-Hartley Plans (Union Trustees)

 

Our firm has provided legal advice to union trustees of Taft-Hartley plans on the following topics:

 

· ERISA  compliance

· Appeals by plan participants

· Fiduciary responsibilities of trustees

· Subrogation issues

· Disputes with employer trustees

· Maintenance of Benefit provisions

· Audit of SPDs and plan procedures (i.e., QDRO, Subrogation)

· Collecting delinquent contributions from participating employers

· Advising third party administrators

 

DOL Reports

 

The Department of Labor requires labor unions and their officers and employees to file various reports on an annual basis (i.e., LM-4, LM- 20).  Our law firm can provide compliance assistance to labor unions and their officers about these requirements.

 

Note:  While our firm does provide legal representation to employers on employment matters (see Advising Employers), our firm does not represent employers in traditional labor disputes (i.e., organizing, NLRB proceedings, elections).