Experience

Arbitration, Mediation and Labor Relations

Federal Mediation & Conciliation ServiceCommissioner – Detroit, MI

  • Mediated employment discrimination cases for the EEOC, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, Homeland Security, U.S. Post Office, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
  • Trained labor management representatives in grievance handling and arbitration, communication skills, problem solving, and negotiations.

Mediated collective bargaining agreements and grievances in the following industries:
Automotive, Bakery, Beverage, Building Products, Brewery, Broadcasting, Canning, Cement, Chemicals, Clothing, Coal, Communications, Construction, Diary, Distillery, Education, Electrical Equipment/Appliances, Electronics, Entertainment/Arts, Feed & Fertilizer, Food, Foundry, Furniture, Glass/Pottery, Grain Mill, Health Care, Hotels/Motels/Casinos/Resorts, Hospital/Nursing Home, Iron, Lumber, Machinery, Maritime, Meat Packing, Metal Fabrication, Office Workers/Clerical, Organizations, Packaging, Paint & Varnish, Petroleum/Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Plastics, Plumbing, Printing and Publishing, Pulp & Paper, Railroads, Real Estate, Refrigeration/HVAC, Restaurants, Retail Stores, Rubber/Tire, Sports, Steel, Stone/Quarry, Textile, Tobacco, Transportation, Trucking and Storage, Utilities, Warehousing

Issues dealt with as a mediator were:
Affirmative Action, Absenteeism, Arbitrability, Bargaining Unit Work, Conduct, Demotion, Discipline (Non-Discharge), Discipline (Discharge), Discrimination: Age, Disability, Race, Sex, Religion, National Origin, Drug/Alcohol Offenses, Fringe Benefits: Bonus, Holiday, Insurance, Interest Arbitration, Leave, Vacation, Grievance Medication, Health/Hospitalization, Hiring Practices, Job Performance, Job Posting/Bidding, Jurisdictional Disputes, Layoffs/Bumping/Recall, Management Rights, Official Time, Past Practices, Promotion, Retirement, Safety/Health Conditions, Seniority, Sexual Harassment, Strikes, Lockouts, Work Stoppages, Slowdowns, Subcontracting/Contracting Out, Tenure/Reappointment, Union Security, Wages: Cost-of-Living Pay, Holiday Pay, Incentive Pay, Job Classification and Rates, Merit Pay, Overtime Pay, Severance Pay, Vacation Pay, Work Hours/Schedules/Assignments, Working Conditions/Work Orders, Violence/Threats

Additional Professional Experience
Attorney at Gregory Van Lopik and Higle a Union Labor Law Firm

Attorney at Keywell and Rosenfeld a Management Labor Law Firm

Teaching Experience
Wayne State University Adjunct Faculty, Dispute Resolution

University of Michigan Business SchoolFormer Adjunct Faculty, Labor Relations

Wayne State University Law School Former Adjunct Faculty, Negotiations

Central Michigan University Former Adjunct Faculty, Labor Relations

Originator of ICLE’s Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference

Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Hillsdale College – Hillsdale, MI

Juris Doctor (JD): University of Detroit Law School – Detroit, MI

Master of Laws (LLM): New York University Law School (Labor Law) – New York, NY

Professional Affiliations
State Bar of Michigan

Former Chair, State Bar of Michigan Labor & Employment Law Section

Former Council Member, State Bar of Michigan Labor & Employment Law Section

Certifications
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Arbitrators Roster

American Arbitration Association Labor and Employment Arbitration Panel

Michigan Employment Relations Commission

Panels
Central Michigan University/MEA

University of Michigan/House Officers Association

MGM Casino/UAW/IBT/UNITE HERE/ IUOE

Motor City Casino/UAW/IBT/UNITE HERE/ IUOE

Hollywood Casino at Greektown/UAW/IBT/UNITE HERE/IUOE

Wayne County/POAM