September 22, 2011
Arthur J. Martin testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Education and The Workforce regarding the National Labor Relations Board, the Boeing case, and other recent developments in labor law. Art was invited to attend by US Representative George Miller (D-CA), Ranking Democratic member of the Committee, and was the sole witness to testify in defense of efforts of the NLRB to better protect workers' rights.
You can view the entire hearing below. Art's testimony begins at time mark 25:16 and ends at 30:38. Art later answers questions from various representatives.
View video here
July 21, 2011
The St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) and the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners reached an historic milestone by signing the first collective bargaining agreement in the police department's 203 year history.
The three-year contract, covering approximately 1000 patrol and probationary officers under the rank of sergeant, is the culmination of 43 years of work by SLPOA. The Fraternal Order of Police affiliate was formed in 1968 with the express purpose of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement for its members.
The contract was ratified with 95% of the officers voting in favor on May 25, 2011, and approved by the Board on May 10. The agreement features mediation and binding arbitration concerning grievances and contact renegotiations, and restores funding for a previously frozen salary matrix. It also grants seniority rights, preserves current vacation, holiday and sick-leave benefits for officers, and grandfathers current officers on the city's residency requirement.
Police officers in Missouri have been battling for collective bargaining rights for over 50 years but were prohibited from engaging in collective bargaining until 2007 when the Missouri Supreme Court reversed two long-standing rulings.
The decision in Independence-National Education Association v. Independence School District opened up the avenue of collective bargaining to all public sector employees. The Missouri Supreme Court overruled two earlier Supreme Court decisions, City of Springfield v. Clouse and Sumter v. City of Moberly, which effectively banned union collective bargaining for public sector employees. The Court held that the plain language of the article, "employees shall have to right to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing," applied to public employees. The Court also held that when an agreement is reached by the public employer and the employee group, the agreement is binding on both sides.
Sally Barker, an attorney at Schuchat, Cook & Werner who focuses on Labor and Public Sector law and represented the prevailing unions in Independence, represented SLPOA in the contract negotiations.
July 19, 2011
Partner Chris Grant testified before the National Labor Relations Board on July 19, 2011 regarding proposed new rules for union elections. Chris was one of several attorneys from outside, union-side firms invited to attend. Management attorneys, employers, unions, non-profits, and workers also testified.
Chris spoke in support of proposed changes to the Labor Board's union election procedures. He noted problems with the current process, which can be manipulated by employers to create delay. He also testified about the stress that long hearings and overdue elections put on employees. The new rules will eliminate "choke points" for delay, and will allow employees to promptly exercise their right to vote for whether they want union representation.
If you have any questions about the union election process and the NLRB's proposed new rules, feel free to contact Chris or any other attorney at our office.
May 27, 2011
Two Schuchat, Cook & Werner attorneys were recently featured in the "ABA Journal" for their volunteer work for Ready Readers -- http://readyreaders-stlouis.com -- a St. Louis-based non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring children from low-income communities to become avid readers. Matthew Leppert (left rear in photo) and Christopher Hexter (right rear) read to a preschool class every week at Jefferson Head Start in St. Louis, Missouri.
Congrats on the recognition, Matt and Chris!
January 18, 2011
Schuchat, Cook & Werner is pleased to announce that Clare R. Behrle has
become a partner in the firm effective January, 2011.
Licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois, Clare is a member of the firm's
workers' compensation team. She works all aspects of workers' compensation
practice, including trials, arbitrations, and appeals, handling cases in Missouri
and Illinois.
Prior to joining the firm, Clare worked at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company as
manager for their Illinois workers' compensation team. She received her juris
doctor from St. Louis University School of Law in 1991, and was an assistant
editor of the St. Louis University Law Journal. She received her BA from
Columbia College, MO., in 1982.
Clare is a member of the Missouri Bar, the Illinois Bar, and the Bar Association of
Metropolitan St. Louis.
Clare makes a great addition to the firm as partner. She is happy to answer your
questions about workers' compensation.
November 17, 2010
Six Schuchat, Cook & Werner attorneys have been selected as 2010 Missouri
"Super Lawyers."
The attorneys are:
- Christopher T. Hexter
- Marilyn S. Teitelbaum
- James I. Singer
- Sally E. Barker
- Arthur J. Martin
- George O. Suggs
"Super Lawyer" candidates go through a three phase selection process. Once
the candidate pool is finalized, each candidate is evaluated based on 12
indicators of professional achievement, and is peer reviewed in their primary
areas of practice.
Schuchat, Cook & Werner is a full-service labor law firm. Our Super Lawyers are
nationally recognized for their work representing unions, employee benefit plans,
individual workers, and highly-compensated executives. They have years of
experience in their fields, and are dedicated to seeking justice on your behalf.
Contact us to speak to one of the firm's lawyers if you have a legal concern.
The choice of a lawyer is important and should not be based solely on
advertisements.
