Vedder is an international business-focused law firm serving sophisticated clients of all sizes and industries from offices across the U.S. and in the UK and Asia.

A Business Focused Law Firm With a Global Reach | Vedder

Vedder’s Labor Relations attorneys advise clients across industries on all aspects of labor relations, helping organizations navigate workforce challenges with clarity.

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The team works closely with management to address collective bargaining, contract interpretation, grievance and arbitration matters, unfair labor practices, labor disputes, contingency planning, and strike preparation, as well as union representation issues, including organizing and decertification efforts.

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Collective Bargaining

We have successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements with major unions across the United States in high-profile negotiations across myriad industries, including health care, logistics, arts and entertainment, manufacturing, cannabis and construction . Our attorneys serve as spokespersons at the bargaining table, support members of the management bargaining team and provide off-site resources for counseling, preparation and drafting of collective bargaining agreement language, assisting with tactical, goal focused strategy planning.

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Grievance Processing and Arbitration

We represent management in labor arbitration matters ranging from questions of employee discipline to complex issues of contract interpretation involving substantial monetary exposure. We stress complete and thorough preparation and aggressive presentation, consistent with our clients’ cost considerations and goals in each matter.

NLRB Investigations and Unfair Labor Practice Charges

Our attorneys are well versed in substantive and procedural law under the National Labor Relations Act, with many years of experience appearing before the NLRB and its regional offices in unfair labor practice and representation matters nationwide and on review in the courts.

Strikes &amp; Work Stoppages

Our attorneys understand that the threat of a strike or work stoppage can be a critical juncture in any collective bargaining agreement negotiation. We offer substantial legal and practical experience in planning for responding to work stoppages, including strike and lockout preparation, communication strategies, court and agency responses to strike violence and other misconduct, and related supervisory training. Our guidance is practical, helps clients operate successfully and minimizes the impact of work stoppages on their businesses.

Positive Labor Relations and Remaining Union-Free

We have extensive experience advising and assisting clients desiring to maintain union-free status. Our attorneys assist clients in assessing their workforces and developing positive employee relations cultures that decrease the likelihood of ever becoming a target. Once visible organizing is underway, we work with clients to build an effective and legal communications and campaign strategy, provide training to supervisors and managers and represent the client at NLRB and state agency election proceedings.

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Chicago, IL 2023

National Labor Relations Board Updates Webinar

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Chicago, IL 2024

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2024

Jonathan Maude featured in People Management Magazine for his article “Post office Horizon IT inquiry: Lessons for Employers”

NLRB’s New Joint Employer Test Significantly Expands Circumstances Under Which Separate Entities Will Be Deemed Joint Employers

NLRB General Counsel Says Most Non-Competes are Illegal Under Labor Law

The FTC Adopts Final Rule Banning Employee Non-Compete Agreements

The FTC’s Game-Changing Ban on Non-Competes Takes Effect September 4 Absent Court Intervention

New Amendments to the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act Will Provide Greater Protection to Employees

2026 Wage Updates for New York State

Third Circuit Signals Shift in Requirements for Releaseof FLSA Claims In Class Action Settlements

AB 288: California Attempts to Step In as Federal Labor Enforcement Stalls

Colorado Supreme Court Shortens the Statute of Limitations for Colorado Minimum Wage Act Claims  

New Jersey Prohibits Employers from Holding Mandatory Meetings on Labor Organizing

Treasury Department Issues List of Jobs Qualifying for New Tip Income Deduction Under “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act

Health Plan Tobacco Surcharge Litigation

Sixth Circuit Splits with EEOC and Other Circuits as to Employer Liability for Harassment by Non-Employees Under Title VII

Alternative Investments and 401(k) Plans

Seventh Circuit Departs from Traditional Two-Step Collective Certification Framework in FLSA and ADEA Cases

Preserving Workplace Culture Amidst the Threat of AI Deepfakes: Employer Considerations in the Wake of the Federal TAKE IT DOWN Act

Ninth Circuit Weighs In On Circuit Split Involving FLSA Collective Action Jurisdictional Requirements

UK Employment Rights Bill Update: the Implementation Roadmap

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Relaunch & Expansion of Its Opinion Letter Program

U.S. Department of Labor Issues New FLSA Independent Contractor Guidance

Sixth Circuit Clarifies Requirements for a Salaried Employee to Be “Paid on a Weekly Basis” Under the FLSA.

Federal District Court Says Class and Collective Action Waiver Survives Unenforceable Arbitration Agreement

Acting NLRB General Counsel Pulls Back Memoranda

Trump Tests Limits of Authority to Shape National Labor Relations Board

You Can’t Miss a Shot If You Don’t Show Up to the Game: Union Pulls Petition to Unionize Dartmouth Basketball Team

Approaching Deadline to Post Last Year’s Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

DOL Returns to Prior Dual Jobs Regulation for Tipped Employees

DOL Reaffirms That Managers And Supervisors May Not Participate In Tip Pools

NLRB Weakens Ability of Employers to Rely on Management Rights Clauses in Collective Bargaining Agreements . . . For Now

Illinois Enacts New Pay Stub Requirements for Employers

Colorado Requires Holiday Incentive Pay to Be Included in the Regular Rate of Pay

New York Governor Signs Legislation to Protect Retail Workers from Workplace Violence

Seventh Circuit to Review Two-Step Collective Certification Process

Fifth Circuit Strikes Down U.S. Department of Labor Tip Credit Rule

Colorado Supreme Court To Decide What Limitations Period Applies To Colorado Minimum Wage Act Claims

Recent Judicial Decisions Highlight the Importance of Anti-Harassment Training

The King’s Speech: Labour’s plans for employment law reforms in the UK

Illinois’s Freelance Worker Protection Act Took Effect July 1, 2024

Will PAGA Be Reformed?

Can I Please Get Four Shots of Espresso Instead of Two?

EEOC Updates Anti-Harassment Guidance for First Time in 25 Years

Motion Seeking to Stay or Enjoin FTC Final Rule Banning Employer-Employee Non‑Competes Set for Ruling by July 3, 2024

Navigating New Minimum Wage Requirements for California’s Fast Food Industry

Delivering the Goods:  The Exemption from Arbitration Focuses on the Worker, Not the Industry

Navigating the New OSHA Walkaround Rule

L.A. County Board of Supervisors Passes Fair Chance Ordinance

Key Changes Impacting UK Employment Law From April 2024

Trying to Reconcile the Tension between the Federal Arbitration Act and Adolph

The DOL Issues Its Final Independent Contractor Rule

New York Governor Vetoes Bill Banning Non-Compete Agreements

The Deal That Ended the SAG-AFTRA Strike

Ringing in the New California Laws

New York City Bans Employers from Creating Height and Weight Requirements

New Law in New York State Impacts Settlement Agreements

UK Supreme Court Ruling:  A Look at the Changes to a Series of Unlawful Deductions

Major Changes Proposed to Non-Competes in the UK

New Law Requires Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area Employers to Provide Pre-Tax Transit Benefits

New York State and City Labor and Employment Updates

California Increases Requirements for Paid Sick Leave

California Approves Minimum Wage Increase for Health Care Employees

California Fast Food Workers Look Forward to Pay Increases

A Rise in DSARs: Why Can Data Subject Access Requests Be Such a Burden?

NLRB Continues to Rewrite the Rules to Limit Employers’ Authority

Just Dropped: IRS Provides Relief on Roth Contributions for HCEs

Unionization Upon Demand:NLRB Announces Most Significant Change to Labor Law in 50 Years

New UK Employer Duty to Prevent Sexual Harassment to Be Watered Down

DOL Returns to Prior Davis-Bacon Act Wage Definition for Construction Industry

EEOC Proposes Regulations for Implementation of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

NLRB to Start Scrutinizing Employer Policies More Closely

CCPA Relief at Risk:  California Attorney General Announces New Investigative Sweep

New York City Law Tackles AI Bias in Employment

The California Supreme Court Sets Viking River Cruise Decision Adrift

A Welcome Delay in CCPA Regulations Enforcement

Illinois Governor Expected to Sign Pay Transparency Bill into Law

AI “Hallucinations” Can Inflict Real-World Pain

Minnesota Enacts Ban on Non-Competition Agreements

NLRB Refashions Independent Contractor Test

Calculating FMLA Leave:  What Happens on Holidays?

Employers Face Minimum Wage Increases in Certain Cities and Local Areas

Canada’s Wildfires Are a Good Reminder of an Employer’s Duty to Provide a Workplace Free of Known Safety and Health Hazards

Colorado Bill Amends Equal Pay for Equal Work Act

Supreme Court Allows Employer to Sue Union. Is that a big deal?

Amendment to Chicago Human Rights Ordinance Protects Bodily Autonomy of Workers

Chicago Updates Its “Ban the Box” Rule to Limit an Employer’s Consideration of Conviction Records

Possible Bias in AI Selectivity?  EEOC Issues Guidance on Use of Artificial Intelligence in Employment Selection Procedures

New EEOC COVID-19 Updates

New York State Releases Its Finalized Updated Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy

Individual Arbitration Agreements and PAGA Representative Claims—Where Do We Stand Now?

NLRB Puts Employers On the Hook for Expanded Remedies for Unfair Labor Practices

The EU’s proposed Artificial Intelligence Act

A UK Perspective on Dealing with Alcohol Dependence in the Workplace

NLRB General Counsel Answers Questions on Severance Agreements in New Memorandum

Los Angeles City’s Fair Work Week Ordinance Provides Predictable Scheduling for Certain Retail Employees

Labor Relations

Insights & Events

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2026

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Chicago, IL 2026

Illinois Department of Labor Prepares to Issue Rules Clarifying Expanded Obligations Under the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act

U.S. DOL’s Wage and Hour Division Rings in the New Year With New FLSA Guidance

2026 Wage Updates for New York State

Third Circuit Signals Shift in Requirements for Releaseof FLSA Claims In Class Action Settlements

Nevada Supreme Court Holds That State Wage and Hour Laws Do Not Incorporate the Federal Portal-to-Portal Act

AB 288: California Attempts to Step In as Federal Labor Enforcement Stalls

Primary Contacts

Related Areas

Insights & Events

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2026

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Chicago, IL 2026

Illinois Department of Labor Prepares to Issue Rules Clarifying Expanded Obligations Under the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act

U.S. DOL’s Wage and Hour Division Rings in the New Year With New FLSA Guidance

2026 Wage Updates for New York State

Third Circuit Signals Shift in Requirements for Releaseof FLSA Claims In Class Action Settlements

Nevada Supreme Court Holds That State Wage and Hour Laws Do Not Incorporate the Federal Portal-to-Portal Act

AB 288: California Attempts to Step In as Federal Labor Enforcement Stalls

Primary Contacts

Related Areas

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