Labor Relations

The Labor Relations Service provides vital services to participating school districts through the Labor Relations CoSer. It encompasses five main areas:

Regulatory Compliance
Public education operates within a heavily regulated environment. The Service constantly monitors laws and regulations in relevant areas and shares any changes through seminars, e-mails, and newsletters. A comprehensive law library on employment/labor and education issues is maintained, the better to both answer quick questions and conduct in-depth research.

Investigations and Discipline
The Service provides an experienced and neutral set of eyes for conducting investigations that may lead to either counseling or discipline of school district employees.

Grievances and Arbitrations
The Service is grounded in the philosophy that it is important to build and maintain good labor relations. However, when the occasional grievance arises, the Service can represent districts on issues regarding negotiated agreements, including in arbitration and at hearings on improper practice charges.

Negotiations
The Service will coordinate negotiations for districts, including developing proposals and comparisons. We gather up-to-date information on salaries and benefits through a yearly survey of component districts, which data is then shared with the districts. Because negotiating a contract involves many steps and considerable time, at-the-table negotiations are an additional service component.

Student Discipline
Labor Relations attorneys act as neutral hearing officers in approximately 150 student discipline hearings each year. A student suspension beyond five days requires a hearing, and there are special rules for classified students. Labor Relations attorneys defuse potential conflicts by ensuring that parents and students feel fairly treated in this process.

Contact

For more information please contact:

Vanessa Hanks, Esq.
Labor Relations Coordinator
Email the Coordinator
(585) 658 or 344-7907

Kevin W. Connell, Esq.
Labor Relations Coordinator
Email the Coordinator
(585) 344-7695

Stephen M. Mahoney, Esq.
Chief Legal Counsel and Labor Relations
(585) 658 or 344-7904

Catherine Palermo, Esq.
Labor Relations Coordinator
Email the Coordinator
(585) 658 or 344-7609