Thursday, February 20, 2020 – Advocate & Arbitrator Training

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  REGISTRATION
8:45 a.m. WELCOME – Norman Bennett,* Esq., Chair, Southwest / Rockies Region
*Indicates a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators

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9:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. ADVOCATE TRAINING

Instructors: Kathy Fragnoli,* Esq., Dallas, TX; Paul G. Chapdelaine,*Pearland, TX
Assisted by: Don E. Williams,* Esq., Lubbock, TX; Sharon A. Gallagher, *Esq., Milwaukee, WI;
Pilar Vaile,*Esq., Yuma, CO; Angela McKee, Esq., Dallas, TX

Topics: How to handle pre-hearing issues, case preparation, discipline and just cause, researching tools, remedies, subpoenas, opening comments, arbitrability, direct and cross examination, handling objections, closing statements, and enforcing the award.

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9:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. ARBITRATOR TRAINING

Instructors:I. B. Helburn,*Austin, TX;
Presenters: Michael Z. Green,* Esq.,Fort Worth, TX; Raquel T. Castillo, Labor & Employment Relations Specialist, FAA, Fort Worth, TX; Gretchen Paulig,Esq., NTEU; Carl Bosland,Esq., USPS; Sam Lisenbe,NBA, APWU

Topics: Evidence, Federal Sector Arbitration, Dos and Don’ts for Arbitrators, The Practice of Arbitration, Attendees’ Concerns
FOR PRACTICING NEUTRALS ONLY!

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4:00 – 5:00 p.m. AGENCY UPDATE (ALL)

Moderator: Tom Cipolla,* Esq., Austin, TX.
FMCS: Arthur Pearlstein, Esq.,Director of Arbitration, Washington, DC.
AAA: To Be Announced

Agency representatives will bring advocates and arbitrators up-to-date on labor cases filed in our region and nationally, training initiatives, and organizational changes at the FMCS and AAA.

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5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.  SOCIAL HOUR (Cash Bar)

Hors d’oeuvres

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6:00 p.m. NAA DINNER
Moderator: Paul Chapdelaine, * Pearland, TX.
Speaker: Rick Bales,* Esq.

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace impacts recruiting and hiring, may create or reduce bias, affects performance evaluations and resulting pay and promotion decisions, and enhances employee monitoring on and off the job. Consequently, AI may affect negotiation demands, grievances filed and arbitration cases heard.  Our speaker, an arbitrator, law professor and subject matter expert, will provide an overview of this emerging topic.

 

Friday, February 21 – Plenary Sessions & Workshops

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  REGISTRATION
9:00 a.m. WELCOME – Norman Bennett,* Esq., Chair, Southwest / Rockies Region

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9:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. PLENARY SESSION
Moderator: Bill McKee, * Denton, TX.
Speaker: Thomas A. Kochan, * Boston, MA.

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10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.  BREAK

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10:45 a.m. – Noon RED LIGHT – GREEN LIGHT:   #METOO ISSUES

Moderator: Rex H. Wiant,* Kansas City, MO.
Panelists: Will Hartsfield,* Esq., Dallas, TX; James P. O’Grady,* St. Louis. MO; Benjamin M. Shieber, * Esq. , Baton Rouge, LA; Pilar Vaile,* Esq., Yuma, CO.

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12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. LUNCH –

Speaker: Barry Winograd, * Esq., Oakland, CA; NAA National President
“The Future of Labor and Employment Arbitration”

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1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. EARLY AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

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CHOOSE ONE OF THREE

ETHICS
Discussion Leader: Lynn M. Gomez, *Esq., Bellaire, TX :   Michael Z. Green,* Esq. Fort Worth, TX.

This interactive session will focus on a variety of ethical issues in arbitration and is intended to qualify for CLE credit in Texas.  The contents of this session will be repeated at 3:30 p.m..

 

POSTAL SERVICE
Discussion Leader: M. Zane Lumbley,*Brenham, TX
Panelist: Kate Attridge, Manager, Collective Bargaining and Arbitration, U.S.P.S., Washington, D.C.; Lew Drass, Vice President, N.A.L.C.; Washington, D.C.; David Heather, Director of Labor Relations, N.R.L.C.A., Kansas City, MO. Vance Zimmerman, APWU Industrial Relations Director, Washington, D.C.; Eileen Mills, Southern Region Director, NPMHU, Washington, D.C.

Topic:  Panelists will update attendees on the status of contract negotiations and describe how the result of those negotiations may impact our service on the arbitration panels administered by the U. S. Postal Service and the labor organizations representing its many employees.

HEARSAY EVIDENCE IN ARBITRATION
Discussion Leader: Thomas A. Cipolla,*Esq., Austin, TX.

Topics: “Did I hear what you heard?”– Hearsay in Arbitration.  What is it? Admissibility?  Exceptions?  Admissions? Reliability?  Documents/Business Records?  Statement in other forums.

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3:15 – 3:30 p.m. BREAK

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3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. LATE AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

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ETHICS
Discussion Leader: Lynn M. Gomez,*Esq., Austin, TX; Michael Z. Green,*Esq. Fort Worth, TX.
This session will be a repeat of the above session for those attendees not attending the morning session.

 

PUBLIC SAFETY
Discussion Leader: Don E. Williams,*Esq., Lubbock, TX.
Panelists: Rod Tanner, Esq. Fort Worth, TX,  Julia Gannaway, Esq.Fort Worth, TX

These well published and noted speakers will discuss the claim of disparate treatment as an affirmative defense in Fire, Police and other public service agency disciplinary cases and as time permits, discovery and cross-examination in discipline cases.

 

DUTY OF FAIR REPRESENTATION
Moderator: Sidney S. Moreland IV,* Esq,, Baton Rouge, LA.

This session is drawn from my paper, to be provided to attendees, on The Duty of Fair Representation.  The session will fill a void of information on this important legal doctrine and will provide guidance on what and what not Union officers should do in the course of their duties.