Labor Relations

Vedder’s Labor Relations attorneys advise clients across industries on all aspects of labor relations, helping organizations navigate workforce challenges with clarity.

The team works closely with management to address collective bargaining, contract interpretation, grievance and arbitration matters, unfair labor practices, labor disputes, contingency planning, and strike preparation, as well as union representation issues, including organizing and decertification efforts.

We have successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements with major unions across the United States in high-profile negotiations across myriad industries, including health care, logistics, arts and entertainment, manufacturing, cannabis and construction . Our attorneys serve as spokespersons at the bargaining table, support members of the management bargaining team and provide off-site resources for counseling, preparation and drafting of collective bargaining agreement language, assisting with tactical, goal focused strategy planning.

We represent management in labor arbitration matters ranging from questions of employee discipline to complex issues of contract interpretation involving substantial monetary exposure. We stress complete and thorough preparation and aggressive presentation, consistent with our clients’ cost considerations and goals in each matter.

Our attorneys are well versed in substantive and procedural law under the National Labor Relations Act, with many years of experience appearing before the NLRB and its regional offices in unfair labor practice and representation matters nationwide and on review in the courts.

Our attorneys understand that the threat of a strike or work stoppage can be a critical juncture in any collective bargaining agreement negotiation. We offer substantial legal and practical experience in planning for responding to work stoppages, including strike and lockout preparation, communication strategies, court and agency responses to strike violence and other misconduct, and related supervisory training. Our guidance is practical, helps clients operate successfully and minimizes the impact of work stoppages on their businesses.

We have extensive experience advising and assisting clients desiring to maintain union-free status. Our attorneys assist clients in assessing their workforces and developing positive employee relations cultures that decrease the likelihood of ever becoming a target. Once visible organizing is underway, we work with clients to build an effective and legal communications and campaign strategy, provide training to supervisors and managers and represent the client at NLRB and state agency election proceedings.