Efficient and Effective Legal Representation

Consider The Power Of A Union Or Professional Employee Association.

Many actions and conditions at work are unfair—but not illegal. This is generally the case when neither illegal discrimination nor illegal retaliation are at issue and there are no specific legal violations, such as infringing on FMLA or OSHA rights.

What, then, can private sector employees do to obtain fairness, due process, and raise wages? The answer is that there is power in UNITY. When employees work together in a formal organization, they can approach management in a protected status pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act and related State statutes.

Unfair And Arbitrary Treatment At Work? Representing and Organizing Unions Since 1975

We have a reputation for being proactive and tough. Attorney Nola J. Hitchcock Cross has been representing local and national labor Unions and professional employee organizations since 1975. She was twice the chairperson of the Labor Law Section of the Wisconsin State Bar Association, a co-chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association Employment Law Committee and a member of the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee and the National Lawyers Guild Labor Law Committee.

Some of our past and present Union and Professional Employee Association clients include Locals of:

  • The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union, AFL-CIO
  • United Electrical Workers Union
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO
  • International Brotherhood of Teamsters
  • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, including District Council 48 and 24, and locals representing school district and municipal employees from secretaries and building engineers, to social workers, parks and highways employees
  • International Association of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO
  • Professional Police Association
  • Deputy Sheriffs Association
  • Public Health Nurses Union, Staff Nurses Council
  • Scientific Employees Association
  • Atlas Cold Storage Employees Union
  • Staff Union Council

What Is A Union or Professional Employee Association?

Although management will try to tell you that a Union or Professional Employee Association is an outside “third party” coming in to take your money, the facts are quite different. A Union consists of only the employees at the workplace! Of course, to bolster their power and experience, they may affiliate with larger Union entities.

Sometimes professional employees are put off by the thought of a “Union.” Instead, they form professional employees’ organizations which, though sounding more professional and white collar, perhaps, they enjoy all of the legal protections of blue collar unions, provided they are voted in in the same manner.

How can you form a Professional Employee Association or a Union? The process involves having a small percentage of employees sign cards of interest sufficient to trigger either voluntary recognition or a vote which will be held by the government agency—the NLRB or a state agency for small employers. Even tiny businesses can unionize.

Experience With All Aspects Of Union Formation, Recognition, Governance, and Representation

We assist Unions in all aspects of the collective bargaining process. We have negotiated numerous Union contracts and won countless Union grievances, interest arbitration proceedings, prohibited practices and unfair labor practices. We have an active practice before the National Labor Relations Board and the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission.

In addition to assisting Unions in the collective bargaining process, we provide counsel and representation to Unions in matters involving:

  • Organizing drives, voluntary recognition, elections, objections, bargaining unit clarification, and related litigation
  • Union or Professional Organization formation articles and bylaws, and issues of internal governance, union mergers, internal grievances, and voting audits for national union intervention issues
  • Collective Bargaining negotiations from formulation of proposals, to conclusion of the contract
  • Grievance filing and processing and grievance arbitration
  • Internal Union Governance issues
  • Injunctions and temporary restraining orders to preserve the status quo when emergency court intervention is required
  • Stewards’ Schools and other educational assistance and materials
  • Strike and picket line advice and litigation

We have also been retained by national Unions for internal Union tribunal matters and Union election disputes.

Retainer Representation And Occasional Representation

Many Unions prefer to pay a general monthly retainer to have our firm at-the-ready to assist them at a moment’s notice. Other employee organizations prefer to use our services only for an occasional arbitration. Some employee organizations bring us in only to teach a Stewards’ School or in an emergency to fight or obtain an injunction. We provide a full array of custom-tailored services to meet the needs of your employee organization.

Cross Law Firm, S.C. Can Provide The Representation You Need

Cross Law Firm, S.C. is experienced in Union organizing drives and the formation of Professional Employee Associations. You need a firm like ours with a long history of Union representation. Call us at 414-224-0000 to assist you with organizing drives, for referral to a national Union to assist with organizing, or to represent your employee association or address an employee group interested in forming a Union or employee professional organization.