CCM Workshop: Proven Arbitration Strategies

Workshop:

Proven Arbitration Strategies

Insights from the Insiders

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Guilford Fire House, Guilford, CT
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Registration 8:30 a.m.

DESCRIPTION

With few arbitration cases being awarded during the first six months of 2009, it is hard to determine how best to approach your unions or the SBMA when going into contract negotiations. It is difficult to know whether now, during the recession, if one should be tough or timid on unions or what expectations one should have. To date, many municipalities have approached their unions for concessions or agreed to contract extensions. But what other options are available? Is going to arbitration worth the time and effort?

The answer is "yes!"

Having the right strategy, information, and professional support puts your municipality in a great position to win in arbitration. If you have been reluctant in the past to bring up a new health insurance program or approach decreasing contractual financial liabilities, now is the time. This workshop will present you with recently used strategies that have proven to be effective when presenting to the SBMA.

A case study of one particular arbitration award, Plainville v. Police, will show that although you may not win all the issues that need arbitration, what matters most is which issues you do win, that could save the town thousands of dollars now and millions in the future. This workshop will approach issues such as how to fund arbitration, how best to provide evidence for your offer, and cost savings from changing current contract provisions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understand what strategies municipalities are using to achieve personnel cost savings through negotiations and, if necessary, interest arbitration.
Review a recent arbitration award involving the Town of Plainville which awarded a hard wage freeze and mandated a high deductible health plan as the primary insurance plan for bargaining unit members.
Interact with a town manager, management attorney, and management arbitrator and discover best practices for approaching interest arbitration cases during the current recession.
Gain confidence to face your unions and reduce personnel costs that are no longer sustainable.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Mayors, First Selectmen
Town and City Managers
Municipal Labor Attorneys
Human ResourceDirectors
Municipal Labor Negotiators
Superintendents of Schools
School Business Managers
Finance Directors

PRESENTERS Patrick J. McHale, Esq.
Management Labor Attorney
Kainen, Escalera,& McHale, P.C.

Robert E. Lee
Town Manager, Plainville

John Romanow
Management Arbitrator
CT State Board of Mediation & Arbitration

WHERE Guilford Fire Department
390 Church St
Guilford, CT 06437-2004
(203) 453-8000 COST per attendee CCM Member Town/City NO CHARGE, Non-Member $120

Sign Up On-line!

Please register me for:

Proven Arbitration Strategies - CCM Member Town/City NO CHARGE, Non-Member $120

Space is limited to a first-come, first-serve basis.
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By submitting your on-line registration, you will be immediately registered. Payment is expected prior to workshop date. You will automatically be sent a registration confirmation form.

Download Registration Form

For more information, or to register, call the CCM Training hotlines at (203) 498-3018 at any time or call (203) 498-3000 during business hours.

DIRECTIONS

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Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
900 Chapel Street, 9th Floor
New Haven, CT 06510
Phone: (203) 498-3000
Fax: (203) 562-6314