39th Annual Illinois Public Sector Conference 

REGISTRATION

8:30 am – 8:40 am   

Opening Plenary: The State of the Illinois Workforce Pre- and Post-Pandemic

This session will feature a discussion of worker and labor union struggles during the pandemic, with an emphasis on how unions impact public health and ensure safer workplaces.

• Jamie McCallum, Associate Professor of Sociology, Middlebury College
• Mike Newman, Deputy Director, AFSCME Council 31
• Erin O'Boyle, Deputy Director, Labor Relations, Illinois Department of Central Management Services

BREAK

BREAKOUT SESSION I

IPLRA Update

The panel will provide a written summary of all ILRB and court decisions issued in the past year concerning the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and will discuss several significant decisions. The Board's General Counsel will also provide an overview of the Board's structure and administrative performance. 

• Margaret Angelucci, Partner, Asher Gittler & D'Alba Ltd.
• Kelly Coyle, Attorney, Clark Baird Smith LLP
• Helen Kim, General Counsel, Illinois Labor Relations Board

Hybrid Mediation and Arbitration Process (Med-Arb) using the Same Neutral

The panelists will discuss the Med-Arb Process - a form of alternative dispute resolution whereby the same neutral conducts a hybrid mediation and arbitration to resolve disputes. The parties will share how the Med-Arb Process came to be, how it's working for all sides, and whether they'd recommend it to other public sector attorneys for dispute resolution.

• Latoyia M. Kimbrough, Attorney, Chicago Teachers Union Foundation
• Libby Massey, Managing Deputy General Counsel, Chicago Public Schools
• Joe Moriarty, Arbitrator and Mediator

History of Illinois Public Sector Labor Law

The panel will discuss major developments in the 40-year history of the Illinois public employee collective bargaining statutes.

• Ted Clark, Clark Baird Smith LLP
• Joel D'Alba, Shareholder, Asher Gittler & D'Alba Ltd. 
• Marty Malin, Professor Emeritus, Chicago-Kent College of Law

Fundamentals of Labor Board Practice

This session will provide an overview of practice before the ILRB and IELRB, and it is designed for anyone who is new to Board practice or who wants to refresh their understanding of the processes of the ILRB and/or IELRB. Topics will include representation petitions, conduct of elections, filing and disposition of unfair labor practice charges, compliance, the hearing process, and the process of the Boards in making decisions on cases that come before them.

• Nick Gutierrez, Staff Attorney & Investigator, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board
• Tiara Mackins, Investigator, Illinois Labor Relations Board
• Kim Stevens, Executive Director, Illinois Labor Relations Board

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BREAKOUT SESSION II

IELRA Update

This panel will discuss highlights of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board's decisions from the previous year. 

• Adam Dauksas, Partner, Franczek P.C.
• Susan Matta, Attorney & Shareholder, Allison, Slutsky & Kennedy P.C.
• Ellen Strizak, General Counsel, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board

Firefighter Forum

This session will focus on labor relations and developments specific to the Firefighter profession. Topics of note include the use of cannabis when off duty, battalion chief organizing, PSEBA Amendment, Interest Arbitration awards, and new legislation.

• Luke Howieson, Vice President at Large, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI)
• Karl Ottosen, Managing Partner, Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo, Ltd.
• Matt Pierce, Shareholder, Asher Gittler & D'Alba Ltd.
• James J. Powers IV, Partner, Clark Baird Smith LLP.

Open and Other Non-Traditional Bargaining

This session will look at open and non-traditional forms of bargaining, including a brief overview of open bargaining, what obligations may be in effect when bargaining in the public sector and the pros and cons of bargaining virtually.

• David Born, Commissioner, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS)
• Tom Bradley, Of Counsel, Lanner Muchin, Ltd.
• Lisa Callaway, Partner, Engler Callaway Baasten & Sraga, LLC.
• Nick Christen, General Counsel & Director of Field and Organizing, Illinois Federation of Teachers

Employee Discipline: Surveillance and Privacy

This panel will focus on the following objectives as it pertains to employee discipline in the workplace:

• Overview of applicable law
• Bargaining over surveillance
• Considerations for remote workers
• Considerations for online/off-duty conduct

• Rachel Clark, General Counsel, Illinois Education Association 
• Patrick Heery, Senior Labor Counsel, Cook County
• Amber Spainhour, Labor Relations Administrator, State of Illinois 
• Anita Tanay, General Counsel, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 308

LUNCH

Post-Lunch Plenary: DEI Efforts in the Workplace after the Supreme Court's 2023 Affirmative Action Case

• Professor Michael Z. Green, Professor of Law and Director, Workplace Law Program, Texas A&M University Law School

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BREAKOUT SESSION III

Police Forum

The Police Forum will focus on the impact of the "SAFE-T Act" on the law enforcement workforce. Topics of discussion include, the bodywork camera act, changes to the uniform peace officers disciplinary act, automatic decertification, including desertification activation issues, and the law enforcement professional conduct database.

• David Amerson, Staff Attorney, Police Benevolent & Protective Association (PB & PA)
• Mark Bennett, Partner, Laner Muchin, Ltd.
• Tamara Cummings, General Counsel, Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council
• David Johnson, Partner, Franczek P.C.

Fundamentals of Contract Negotiation

This session will explore the contract bargaining process including team preparation and strategies, bargaining issues, the duties of the parties, and consideration of outside matters that affect bargaining. As a fundamentals session designed for non-lawyers and new lawyers, the panel will provide an introduction to the world of collective bargaining for both labor and management representatives. 

• Carlos Arevalo, Partner, Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd.
• Matt Carpenter, General Counsel, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73
• Amanda Clark, Shareholder, Asher, Gittler, D'Alba, Ltd.
• Robb Craddock, Executive Director, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Trends and Updates in Higher Education Labor Relations

This session will outline the current changes taking place in higher education labor relations. Including student employee and athletes and paid leave for all workers, and strikes. Taking a look at relevant cases involving student athletes and the NCAA to see how these cases have impacted higher education labor relations. 

• Victor Blackwell, Executive Director, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board
• Melissa Mlynski, Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, University of Illinois Springfield 
• Steve Yokich, Partner, David, Bloch, Bennett, Cervone, Auerbach, & Yokich, LLP

AI in Labor & Employment Law: Myths, Realities, and Ethical Considerations

Four panelists will explain what Artifical Intelligence (AI) is, isn't and ethical considerations for its use in the labor & employment law field. The panel will go through hypotheticals that illustrate ethical concerns of using AI. 

Learning Objectives:

1. What an attorney's duty of competent representation means when using AI
2. How attorneys can avoid the unauthorized practice of law when using AI

• Steve Bierig, Attorney-Arbitrator-Mediator
• Nicole Chaney, Director of Labor and Employment, Cook County Assessor's Office
• Peter McNamara, Staff Attorney, International Union of Operation Engineers, Local 399

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BREAKOUT SESSION IV
 

Newest Trends in Interest Arbitration 

This session will explore interest arbitration including best practices throughout the entire arbitration process and will look at recent decisions and trends as it relates to interest arbitration. 

• Amy Moor Gaylord, Partner, Co-Chair, Traditional Labor Practice, Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Akerman LLP  
• Brian Clauss, Arbitrator Mediator Attornery, Clauss ADR, Inc.
• Jerry Marzullo, Shareholder, Asher, Gittler & D'Alba, Ltd.

Fundamentals of Mediation and Arbitration

A panel comprised of a labor advocate, management advocate and a neutral arbitrator will discuss the fundamentals of arbitration and mediation, including best practices and pitfalls.

• Jeanne Charles, Arbitrator & Mediator and FSIP Member, Jeanne Charles, Esq
• Jennifer Dunn, Partner, Franczek P.C.
• Thad Goodchild, Deputy General Counsel, Chicago Teachers Union

Mental Health in the Workplace Post-Pandemic

The legal profession is an inherently challenging field requiring its members to zealously fight to overcome challenges for both their clients and alternatively, themselves. The intense demands of the profession combined with the high rates of substances use and mental health issues confirmed by recent studies makes cultivating healthy skills for overcoming the challenges and stressors of our field a MUST. Participants in this program will learn:

1)  What LAP is?

2)  Why attorneys are a vulnerable population.

3)  What the long term impact of the pandemic on the workforce and on people in general.

4)  How to engage in self-care while doing this work.

5)  How to maintain health and wellness in one’s professional and personal life especially given the current state of the world and the nation.

• Joe Scally, Clinical Director, Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program 

EEOC Trends and Developments in 2023

This session will provide a brief overview of the Illinois Department of Human Rights, enforcement and evolution of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Along with a discussion of trending challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in the workplace and developments in religious and disability accomodation standards.

Learning Objectives 

1. Develop an understanding of protections from discrimination available under the Illinois Human Rights Act, a comparison with Federal Law, and receive updates on recent amendments and other changes. 
2. Learn about trending challenges by employees to mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. 
3. Understand how to apply the updated standard for deciding religious accomodation requests, and new considerations for employers when deciding disability accomodation requests in the work-from-home era.

• Yvette Heintzelman, Member, Clark Hill PLC
• Betsey Madden, Chief Legal Counsel & Ethics Officer, Illinois Department of Human Rights
• Elizabeth (Libby) Rowe, Partner, Dowd, Bloch, Bennett, Cervone, Auerbach & Yokich LLP

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BREAKOUT SESSION V

FOIA/OMA Session

This panel will discuss the changes to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, updates on Section 7.5(zz), and the Open Meetings Act, with a fucus on public access changes and updates. 

• Leah Bartlet, Public Access Counselor, Illinois Attorney General's Office
• A Lynn Himes, Equity Partner, Himes, Petrarca & Fester Chtd.
• Rob Pazsta, Associate General Counsel, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150

Workers' Rights Amendments One Year Later

The monumental Workers Rights Amendment was voted into the Illinois Constitution in the November 2022 election. In effect for a year, we will explore the impact it’s had and its potential impact looking into the future.

• Bob Bruno, Professor & Director, Labor Education Program (Chicago), University of Illinois at Chicago
• Ben Gehrt, Partner, Clark Baurd Smith LLP
• Marc Poulos, Executive Director, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting (III FFC)

Is There A Better Way? Grievance Med-Arb Lessons From North of the Border

This session will cover how some of the practices used in Canada might be useful to parties in Chicago. It is aimed to help people rethink their processes to facilitate settlement and more efficient hearings. 

• Randi Hammer Abramsky, Arbitrator
• Margo Newman, Arbitrator 
• Jackie Zimmerman, Arbitrator and Mediator

Fundamentals of Representation in Grievances and Disciplinary Proceedings 

The panel will focus on grievance representations for non-lawyers broken down into several subtopics, including relationships, investigations, and the rules of evidence. 

• Matt Jones, Associate University Counsel, University of Illinois System
• Scott Miller, Attorney, AFSCME Council 31
• Tyson Roan,  Field Service Director, Illinois Federation of Teachers
• Torrick Ward, Deputy Director - Labor Relations, Cook County 

Networking Reception