Symposium to feature NLRB general counsel

National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Richard F. Griffin Jr. will deliver the keynote address during the Bernard Gottfried Memorial Labor Law Symposium on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Wayne State University Law School.

Alumni, students and anyone interested in furthering their insight into labor law are invited to attend the symposium from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium at the law school, 471 W. Palmer St.

Griffin was sworn in as general counsel of the NLRB on Nov. 4, 2013. He served as a board member from Jan. 9, 2012, through Aug. 2, 2013. Griffin previously served as general counsel for International Union of Operating Engineers. He also served on the board of directors for the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee. From 1985 to 1994, Griffin served as a member of the board of trustees of the IUOE's central pension fund. From 1981 to 1983, he served as a counsel to NLRB board members.

Griffin earned a bachelor of arts degree from Yale University and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

The symposium, in its 23rd year, is sponsored by Wayne Law, NLRB Region 7, and the State Bar of Michigan Labor and Employment Law Section.

The day begins with registration and a continental breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by opening remarks from Wayne Law Dean Jocelyn Benson and NLRB Region 7 Director Terry Morgan. The symposium continues with a morning session, "Your Computer or Mine Employees' Rights to Employers' E-mail Systems and Other Electronic Systems," and a panel discussion on "Joint Employer Status, Franchisors & Franchisees Paying the Cost to be the Boss" led by labor relations and management experts. After a noon luncheon, Griffin will deliver the keynote address. In the afternoon, attendees will take part in two special sessions, "Representation Case Procedures/Election Changes" and "Babcock & Wilcox and Deferral Standards."

The registration fee for the symposium is $100, which includes all sessions, presentation materials, breakfast and lunch. Students, NLRB staff and government employees can register for a reduced cost of $35. The deadline for registration is Thursday, Oct. 1. Register online at law.wayne.edu/gottfried2015. Parking is available for $7 (credit and debit cards only) in Structure No. 1 across West Palmer Street from the law school.

Proceeds from the symposium will be used to fund future educational programs and labor law studies at Wayne Law. For more details, call the Wayne Law Dean's Office at 313-577-6497.

The symposium honors the labor relations vision of Bernard Gottfried (1925-1992), who was director of Region 7 from 1973 until his death. He taught as an adjunct professor at Wayne Law for many years.

Published: Wed, Sep 23, 2015