Public Sector Labor Relations Certificate Program

Fall 2011 Semester

 

Introduction to Public Sector Labor Law (Click Here to Register for course)

Course Code: PSLR-LL

September 28, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructor: James W. Mastriani

This course will explore the fundamentals of public sector labor law, with a special focus on the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act.  Participants will receive an overview of key public sector legal concepts, practices, and procedures, with topics including the role of administrative agencies, scope of negotiations, representation cases, unfair practices, and impasse procedures.

 

Discipline and Grievance Handling (Click Here to Register for course)

Course Code: PSLR-DG

October 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructor Joyce M. Klein

This course will examine the grievance procedure, employee and employer rights and responsibilities, standards of just cause and their application to real life cases, and the burden of proof.  Participants will discuss how to resolve grievances at the lowest level and will be given a brief overview of the arbitration hearing process.

 

Collective Negotiations in the Public Sector (Click Here to Register for course)

PSLR-CN

November 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructor: Joel M. Weisblatt

This introductory course provides the basic knowledge necessary to prepare for and conduct collective negotations in the public sector.  It will examine the structure of public sector bargaining, with a focus on recent trends; scope of negotiations; basic "costing out"; preparations for negotiations; and impasse procedures.  Participants will receive useful tactical hints.

 

PERC Procedures and Rules (Click Here to Register for course)

PSLR-PR

December 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructor Don Horowitz

This introductory course will review the basic procedures for the filing of petitions and charges with PERC. Topics include filing unfair practice charges; and filing petitions regarding representation issues, scope of negotiations issues, notices of impasse requesting mediation, as well as petitions requesting interest and grievance arbitration.

 

Spring 2012 Semester

 

Public Sector Grievance Arbitration (Click Here to Register for course)

PSLR-GA

February 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructor: Joan Parker

This seminar is designed to increase the practitioner's skills in preparing for and presenting grievance arbitration class.  Major subjects discussed include preparing for arbitration, the hearing, presenting a case, standards for just cause, evidence, criteria for contact interpretation, remedies, the arbitration decision, and different arbitration systems.  This interactice class also includes a film.

 

Scope of Negotiations (Click Here to Register for course)

PSLR-SN

March 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructor: Don Horowitz

This course will address all aspects of the scope of negotiations in New Jersey's public sector.  It will trace the legislative, judicial, and PERC developments that have impacted the issues that can and must be the subjects of collective negotiations and grievance arbitration.  The class will also examine how PERC decides the scope of negotiations in particular cases.  

 

Contract Interpretation (Click Here to Register for course)

PSLR-CI

April 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructor: Steven Weissman

This class will examine how the meaning and enforceability of contract language negotiated under the N.J. Employer-Employee Relations Act has evolved notaly over the last 40 years, and how court decisions, arbitrators' opinions, and PERC rulings have served to establish a set of principles and guidlelines for negotiating binding contract language in the public sector.  Participants will learn the processes and procedures of enforcing and interpreting contract provisions, from both labor and management perspectives. 

 

Conflict Resolution (Click Here to Register for course)

PSLR-CR

May 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Instructor: Saul A. Rubinstein

Although labor relationships are rooted in underlying, fundamental conflicts of interest, there exist many techniques for reducing dysfunctional conflict.  This class will expose participants to interest-based and other problem-solving techniques that can be used in grievances, at the barganing table, and every day in the workplace.  It will also examine models of labor-management cooperation in the public sector, and participants will learn through role playing and hands-on exercises.