advocates' day

Advocates' Day brings together labor officials, labor representatives, public and private sector managers, management representatives, and labor relations neutrals from across the United States and Canada to hear national and regional speakers addressing the key issues of the day. ALRA Advocates' Day runs concurrent with a designated day of the ALRA Annual Conference.

$175us if registration received by July 1, 2003
$195us if registration received after July 1, 2003

MICHIGAN AND FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AGENCIES TO HOST
NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN JULY 2003

In late July of 2003, labor relations agencies in and around Michigan will have the opportunity to showcase our State and the wealth of labor history in our area when we co-host the Annual Conference of the Association of labor Relations Agencies (ALRA).

ALRA is a nonprofit organization of 72 private and public labor relations agencies at the federal, state, and provincial levels in the United States and Canada. Member agencies include MERC, NLRB, Canada Industrial Relations Board, FMCS, Michigan Department of Civil Service, and other state, provincial, and local labor relations agencies.

Every summer, ALRA holds an annual conference in the locale of a member agency, featuring nationally known speakers. The 2003 ALRA Conference will take place from July 26-30, 2003, in the great City of Detroit - the catalyst of the labor movement, at the Marriott Detroit Renaissance Center and will be hosted by the Michigan Bureau of Employment Relations/MERC, FMCS (U.S.) and FMCS (Canada), the NLRB, Michigan Department of Civil Service, and the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

2003 Program Highlights: On Monday, July 28, 2003, the ALRA Conference will feature an Advocates' Day when attorneys, arbitrators, labor union and management representatives, and other labor relations professionals will be invited to attend. Advocates' Day presenters will include: Robert Battista, Chairman, NLRB; Ron Gettelfinger, President, UAW International; David Hollister, Director, Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services; Peter Hurtgen, Director, U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Servcie; Carol Waller Pope, Member, Federal Labor Relations Authority; and the Honorable Henry W. Saad, Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals.

Monday, July 28, 2003 (Advocates' Day)

8:30 - 9:00 a.m.	Welcome Remarks (updated 7/11/03) The Honorable Michael Hurst, Mayor of Windsor Donald W. Boggs, President, Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Larry Alexander, President/ CEO of Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.	Plenary Session (updated 7/1/03) Labor Speaker: Ron Gettlefinger, President, United Auto Workers Management Speaker: Harold Coxson, Jr., Olgletree Deakins, Attorneys at Law Neutral Speaker: Carol Waller Pope, Member, Federal Labor Relations Agency
10:30-10:45 a.m.	BREAK
10:45 - 12:00 noon	Concurrent Sessions 1. Auto Negotiations and Their Economic Impact Few industries impact the North American economy with the breadth and depth of the auto industry. In the US, the "Big Three" collective bargaining agreements will expire soon. Hear from the experts - What are the issues? How will they impact an industry estimated to have a direct impact of 3-4% on the US GNP? This panel of industry and academic experts will outline the significant problems the negotiators will be addressing and their likely impact on the collective bargaining environment and the economy. Panelists: Sean McAlinden, Chief Economist of the Center of Automotive Research Bill Murnighan, Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) 2. Policy Changes in Political Transitions Elections produced significant change on the national political spectrum. Less public, but equally important to the labor relations community are the changes which occurred at the state level. Three new department heads of neutral agencies will explain the potential policy impacts of political transitions. Panelists: David C. Hollister, Director, Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services James Cunningham, Commissioner, Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services Carol Nolan Drake, Chairman, Ohio State Employment Relations Board 3. Effective Use of Mediation A staple of labor relations and collective bargaining since the legal recognition of the process, mediation and its practice are constantly changing. What has changed and what has stayed the same? Are the parties really getting the most out of the process? Do they know what's available? A panel of experienced mediators will share their perspectives and their expertise. Panelists: Jackie McVeigh, Mediator Specialist with Labour Management Services, Ontario Ministry of Labour Ed Phillips, Mediator, Michigan Employment Relations Commission John Pinto, Director of Mediation Services, Midwest Region (FMCS, US)


12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.	LUNCH Peter Hurtgen, National Director, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service - U.S., Former Chair of the National Labor Relations Board
1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	Concurrent Workshops (revised 7/11/03) 1. Health Care Cost Pressures on Collective Bargaining Health insurance is clearly one of a handful of issues driving bargaining throughout the United States. Is cost control out of the picture? Is cost shifting or sharing the only answer? Is a national solution the only way out of the cost spiral? This panel of experts will explore the health care issues confronting employers and unions everywhere. Panelists: Philip Schloop, Business Manager, I.U.O.E. Local 547 Priscilla Horde, Director of Employee Relations, Mt. Clemens General Hospital Dave Klinger, V.P. Human Resources, Mt. Clemens General Hospital David Watroba, Director of Marketing Relations, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan 2. Pension/Retirement Bargaining Issues After many years of financial growth and additional benefits as a regular part of negotiations, many pension systems are in financial jeopardy. Investment losses and the pending retirement of the "boomers" have moved the issue of pensions and retirement eligibility to the front of the table in bargaining throughout North America. What are the problems? Are there joint solutions for the short and the long run? It's an issue confronting management and labor with a new ferocity. Panelists: George W. King, McTague Law Firm LLP, Windsor, Ontario Paul Zorn, Director of Governmental Research, Babriel, Roeder, Smith & Co. Nicholas Nahat, Novara, Tesija & Michela, PC 3. Arbitrators for Advocates Not a new self-help group, this prestigious panel of arbitrators will outline the difficult issues and concerns being confronted by arbitrators and practitioners. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the approaches of prominent nationally recognized arbitrators. Panelists: Walt Gershenfeld, President, National Academy of Arbitrators Karen Bush Schneider, Attorney, Arbitrator Mary A. Bedikian, Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, Michigan State University-DCL College of Law

2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Break

Plenary Session

Robert Battista, Chairman, National Labor Relations Board

3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions (revised 7/11/03)

1. Appearing Before Administrative Agencies - The Do's and Don'ts

Experienced administrative law judges and managers will lead this session. Attendees will learn the actions and behaviors that hurt them most in appearances before neutral administrative agencies. This panel will also examine the things an agency finds helpful. At the end of this session every advocate will have had the opportunity to learn from the judges regarding administrative procedures.

Panelists:

Clint Wolcott, Senior Attorney, Federal Labor Relations Authority

Roy L. Roulhac, Administrative Law Judge, Michigan Employment Relations Commission

Stephen Glasser, Regional Director, Region 7, National Labor Relations Board

2. Practitioner's Ethics Before Neutral Agencies

Ethics is more than a "buzzword" for practitioners in labor relations. In a business where a persons' promise still means a great deal, advocates and ALRA delegates will have an opportunity to explore the ethical issues unique to the profession and practice before neutral agencies. Ethical issues are increasingly important in an era of increased adversarial behavior and these panelists have the experience and expertise to provide all attendees with valuable information and practical applications.

Panelists:

The Honorable Henry William Saad, Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals

Victoria Kremski, Assistant Regulation Counsel, Professional Standards, State Bar of Michigan

6:30 p.m.

Reception: Detroit Institute of Arts

Questions: Questions concerning ALRA Advocates' Day may be directed to MERC Director, Ruthanne Okun, at (313) 456-3519 or e-mail at rokun@michigan.gov.