Summary of Specifications:
The City of Rochester Hills is seeking proposals from firms licensed to provide legal services in the State of Michigan to serve as labor and employment counsel. The firm will work closely with the Director of Human Resources, providing services to the Mayor and other City officials, department directors, and management staff in areas including, but not limited to: • Labor and employment law compliance • Labor negotiations • Labor contract administration • Public Act 312 arbitration • Grievance arbitration • Unfair labor practice charges • Civil Rights and equal employment opportunity compliance • Employee benefits administration Services to be provided include: 1. Assisted by the Director of Human Resources, serve as lead negotiator, in negotiations with each of the City’s three collective bargaining units, representing general employees, supervisory employees and P.A. 312 eligible fire fighters. 2. Provide labor contract interpretation and guidance. 3. Provide day to day advice and assistance to the Director of Human Resources on emergent and pending matters, including complaint and grievance investigations. 4. Provide an annual employment and labor law compliance review, as well as updates on new and pending legislation. 5. Assist with arbitration proceedings, including research, advice and representation at hearings. 6. Provide counsel and representation for labor and employment related matters up to and including appearances before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, state and federal courts or other administrative agencies. 7. Advise or participate in labor-management committees and alternative dispute resolution processes. 8. Assist the Director of Human Resources in conducting periodic meetings or lead discussions with management and supervisory personnel, department directors and elected officials to on current topics in employment law and contract administration. 9. Attend meetings of City Council, the Mayor, City department directors, or others to confer and provide legal advice on labor and employment matters. 10. Advice and counsel may be provided by way of telephone, electronic documents, e-mail, facsimile and U.S. mail provided the response is acceptable and timely using one of these methods. 11. The proposal shall identify a lead attorney with whom the City will have primary contact. Timeliness of response and accessibility to the lead attorney is an important aspect of the service.
