Labor & Employment

Labor Relations

Roetzel collaborates with in-house counsel and human resources departments in both public entities and private companies to provide efficient, cost-effective representation in labor relations and union matters. Our goal is to help employers maintain positive employee relations and prevent labor issues. When disputes occur, we work closely with employers to resolve them promptly. We represent private employers before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and public employers before the Ohio State Employment Relations Board, frequently handling grievance and arbitration proceedings, injunctions, and other labor-related litigation.

Our labor relations attorneys support clients across various industries, including automotive, airline, newspaper, television, education, tire, construction, and produce. We have also represented employers in contract negotiations and conflict resolution with major unions such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Teamsters, Ohio Nurses Association, and United Steelworkers.

Our Experience

  • Representation of numerous employers in negotiations with various unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Teamsters, Ohio Nurses Association, and United Steelworkers
  • Led the successful defense of an employer against a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action claiming that employer had not paid for travel time between work assignments
  • Successfully represented a large non-profit before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
  • Served as chief labor negotiator for teaching and non-teaching contracts, including traditional and interest-based bargaining, and provide behind the scenes advice to the board’s negotiation team
  • Negotiated initial contract for public sector employer
  • Represented a Fortune 50 domestic automobile manufacturer in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases, as well as NLRB proceedings, appeals, and labor arbitrations
  • Represented a private employer before the National Labor Relations Board
  • Assisted a public sector employer in a union organizing campaign that resulted in union election loss
  • Provided supervisory training to a non-union employer regarding union avoidance
  • Represented a private nonprofit employer in arbitration proceedings
  • Managed contract negotiation and administration issues for nonprofit organizations, human service departments, Metropark systems, and sheriffs' departments
  • Handled contract negotiations and contract administration matters for a number of private sector clients
  • Represented private and public employers in union campaigns, labor contract negotiations, and labor arbitrations
  • Negotiated a project labor agreement for a state university to construct new university facilities
  • Represented air carriers in union arbitrations for pilots, flight attendants, maintenance and ramp workers on diverse issues, including bids, scheduling and overtime calculation
  • Led collective bargaining negotiations with various newspaper and television trade and guild unions, including successful negotiation of a new labor agreement that took technological advancements into consideration for the first time
  • Advised newspaper clients regarding carrier and independent contractor issues

What We Do

  • Represent clients in National Labor Relations Board proceedings
  • Represent clients in State Employment Relations Board proceedings
  • Advise on union organizing avoidance 
  • Assist with union decertification
  • Negotiate collective bargaining contracts
  • Administer collective bargaining contracts
  • Advise on work stoppages, picketing, and strikes
  • Handle grievance and arbitration proceedings
  • Advise on reductions in force
  • Handle unfair labor practice proceedings
  • Assist with fact-finding, mediation, and conciliation

Related Media & Events

  1. Alerts
    The National Labor Relations Board Issues Expansive Joint Employer Rule - Oct 30, 2023
    Elevated Protections for Pregnant Workers Now in Effect - Jun 28, 2023
    The NLRB Claims That It Is Returning to Prior Precedent Restricting the Use of Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Clauses in Severance Agreements, but Is It Really? - Mar 9, 2023
    Department of Labor Planning Enhanced Enforcement - Apr 27, 2021
    Labor Secretary Walsh’s Challenging Agenda - Mar 30, 2021
    Anticipated Department of Labor Changes Under President Biden - Mar 30, 2021
    NLRB Relaxes Trump-Era Financial Disclosure Requirements for Unions - Feb 16, 2021
    The NLRB: A Farewell to Many Trump Administration Policies - Feb 9, 2021
    Legislation Repeals Three Health-Related Excise Taxes Imposed by the Affordable Care Act - Jun 5, 2020
    EEOC Updates COVID-19 Guidance on “High-Risk” Employees Returning to Work - May 8, 2020
    Key Issues to Address in Returning to Work - May 1, 2020
    EEOC Updates COVID-19 Guidance to Address Employers Reopening for Business - Apr 24, 2020
    NLRB Postpones Effective Date of Election Protection Final Rule Until July 31, 2020 - Apr 10, 2020
    NLRB Proposes New Election Rules Un-Blocking Charges and Protecting Employee Rights After Voluntary Recognition - Aug 14, 2019
    New Year, New Minimum Wage - Jan 7, 2019
    "It's Like Déjà Vu All Over Again" : The Boeing Micro-Unit Case - Oct 15, 2018
    The Humpty Dumpty Defense Does Not Work for Hospital in Union Organizing Campaign: The Importance of Carefully Drafting a No-Solicitation Policy - Aug 14, 2018
    Abood-Face: Supreme Court of the United States Supplants 41 Years of Precedent By Declaring Union Fair Share Fees Unconstitutional - Jun 27, 2018
    The NLRB Makes Big Moves: Employee Handbooks and Joint Employers - Dec 15, 2017
    Supreme Court to Revisit Public Sector Union Fees - Sep 29, 2017
    Alex Acosta Nominated for Secretary of Labor Position After Withdrawal of Andrew Puzder From Consideration - Feb 17, 2017
    NLRB's Persuader Rule Permanently Dead - Nov 17, 2016
    Department of Labor's "Persuader Rules" to be Published Tomorrow - Mar 23, 2016
    Long-Awaited Joint Employer Decision Issued by NLRB - Aug 28, 2015
    Ambush Election Rules are Here to Stay - Jul 30, 2015
    NLRB "Ambush Elections" Rule Upheld by Texas Court - Jun 2, 2015
    President Obama Vetoes Senate Attempt to Kill New "Ambush Election" Rule - Apr 1, 2015
    FINAL COUNTDOWN…Less than One Month to Prepare for Ambush Elections - Mar 16, 2015
    NLRB Files Labor Violations Complaints against McDonald's - Dec 19, 2014
    As Threatened, NLRB Implements Ambush Election Rules - Dec 12, 2014
    Employees Now Allowed to Use Company-Provided Email Systems for Union Organizing - Dec 11, 2014
    The Door is Opening to Unionization in Franchised Operations - NLRB Lessens Burden to Prove Franchisor and Franchisee are Joint Employers - Aug 1, 2014
    NLRB Lessens Burden to Prove Franchisor and Franchisee are Joint Employers - Jul 31, 2014
    Recent Legal Developments' Potential Impact on Franchisees - Jun 27, 2014
    NLRB Region 13 Rules Northwestern University's Football Players Can Unionize - Mar 27, 2014
    U.S. Supreme Court Rules that Workers' Time Spent Putting On and Taking Off Protective Gear is Not Compensable if Excluded Under a Collective Bargaining Agreement - Jan 30, 2014
  2. Articles
    NLRB Issues Employer-Friendly Decision Regarding Employee Handbooks - Jan 16, 2018 - Reminger Report
    NLRB Holds That Employees Can Use Company Email for Union and Other Protected Communications - Jan 1, 2015 - JD Supra Business Advisor
    NLRB's 'Joint Employer' Test Will Rewrite Labor Law - Sep 18, 2014
    US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation Considers Missouri Workers' Compensation Laws, Rules against Former NFL Players in Concussion Suit - 2014 - Concussion Litigation Reporter
  3. Firm News
    100 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch” - Aug 15, 2024
    Roetzel Earns National and Regional Rankings in 2024 Best Law Firms® - Nov 2, 2023
    Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers - Aug 17, 2023
    Roetzel & Andress Appoints Five Attorneys to Key Leadership Roles - May 9, 2023
    Roetzel & Andress Named to 2023 “Best Law Firms” List - Nov 3, 2022
    Roetzel Welcomes Labor & Employment Shareholder in Columbus - Mar 21, 2022
    Roetzel & Andress Named to 2022 “Best Law Firms” List - Nov 4, 2021
    Thirty Roetzel Attorneys Selected to 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List - Dec 8, 2020
    Roetzel & Andress Ranked Among “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® - Nov 5, 2020
    Roetzel’s Monica Frantz Earns Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion - Nov 2, 2020
    Seventy Roetzel Attorneys Named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America© List; Ten Named “Lawyer of the Year” - Aug 20, 2020
    Roetzel & Andress Adds Shareholder Barry Freeman in Cleveland - Mar 13, 2020
    Changes in Akron Bar Leadership Addressed in Akron Legal News Article - Jul 30, 2018
    Roetzel's Karen D. Adinolfi Sworn In as President-Elect of Akron Bar Association - Jun 22, 2018
    Roetzel & Andress Ranked in 2018 "Best Law Firms" List - Nov 2, 2017
    Roetzel & Andress Ranked in 2017 "Best Law Firms" - Nov 1, 2016
    Karen Adinolfi Named Vice President of Akron Area Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management - Oct 12, 2016
    Roetzel & Andress Announces Election of New President and Treasurer - Mar 1, 2016
    Attorney Karen Adinolfi Elected to Chair the Board of Trustees of the Akron Blind Center - Feb 8, 2016
    Roetzel & Andress Ranked in 2016 "Best Law Firms" - Nov 2, 2015
    Roetzel Ranked Among Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report - Nov 5, 2013