Amy Moor Gaylord, Co-Chair of Akerman’s Traditional Labor Law Practice, will present a session titled “The Union’s Role in Preventing Discrimination & Harassment in the Workplace Before it Becomes Unlawful” at the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association (IPELRA) 45th Annual Training Conference. 

The session will answer the following questions:

• What can unions do to ensure members are treated fairly and with respect by coworkers and union members, even if it’s the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe workplace?
• Can unions help employers track and combat improper workplace behaviors? How does a union’s duty of fair representation intersect with members’ needs to feel safe around coworkers in and out of the workplace and union hall?
• What obligations do third parties have regarding discrimination and harassment in the workplace?
• Can a union or third party alert an employer to inappropriate behavior without violating its duty of fair representation?
• Can an employer and union work together to prevent such issues?