Labor Law

Labor and employment law is a vital and complex element in the business operations of private and public employers. The goal of labor laws is to equalize the bargaining power between employers and employees. The laws primarily deal with the relationship between employers and unions. Labor laws grant employees the right to unionize and allows employers and employees to engage in certain activities, including strikes, picketing, and lockouts. The area of labor law is governed by federal law, state law, and case law. It is also governed by regulations and decisions of a variety of administrative agencies. The labor law attorneys at Gilkey & Stephenson represent clients in all aspects of traditional labor law, including:

• Union organization, union certification petitions, and union elections
• Collective bargaining
• Administration of labor contracts, including grievance procedures
• Strikes, picketing, lockouts, and injunctions
• Unfair labor practices and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
• Federal court litigation and appeals
• Mediation and arbitration
• Workplace safety / Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) claims
• Wage and hour law
• Pension funds
• Pension and health care plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)