Protecting the Interests of Labor Unions
HMBR offers a robust Labor and Employment Practice dedicated to protecting our clients’ interests in both complex and routine labor negotiations. Our attorneys bring over 75 years of collective experience to the table, handling all types of negotiations, ranging from everyday workplace grievances to sophisticated, high-stakes collective bargaining agreements. We routinely counsel and advise labor organizations in both the public and private sectors, including unions representing police, firefighters, construction workers and other trades and industries in the Chicago metropolitan area.
The attorneys in our practice are committed to ensuring that workers receive fair wages and proper working conditions. We leverage a thorough understanding of the rules and procedures governing labor relations to represent our clients in collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance arbitration and interest arbitration proceedings. Our team also features seasoned litigators who are fully equipped to advocate for labor union interests in state and federal court.
Working to Achieve Mutually Agreeable Resolutions
In every matter that we handle, preparation is the key to obtaining a successful outcome for our clients. Our work on behalf of unions often requires extensive research and discussions with management to find a resolution that is agreeable to all parties without having to resort to litigation or strike activity. When a resolution is unattainable and a strike becomes necessary, our lawyers work with union leaders to ensure that their activities comply with state and federal laws respecting the rights of both unions and employers.
Regardless of the size or scope of the matter, our labor and employment attorneys concentrate on helping clients obtain prompt and equitable results. We do not always equate a successful outcome with a win, rather our goal is to reach a mutually satisfactory compromise that allows both parties to achieve their critical goals and objectives. This approach has garnered the respect of both unions and management and has positioned our firm to negotiate some of the largest contracts in the metropolitan region, including an unprecedented ten-year contract with the City of Chicago that locked in prevailing wages for the city’s public employees.