Texas Public Employer Labor Relations Association (TxPELRA) Annual Workshop
February 29,2012

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Registration

8:30 – 8:45 a.m.

Welcome

TxPELRA President Tadd Phillips, Director of Human Resources, McKinney

8:45 – 9:30 a.m.

National Public Employer Labor Relations (NPELRA) Update
NPELRA President Sam Penrod, Human Resources Manager, San Clemente, California
Moderator: NPELRA Board Member Jim Parrish, Director of Human Resources, Plano

9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

The National Perspective on Public Labor Relations Issues pdf doc
R. Theodore Clark, Jr., Partner, Clark Baird Smith, LLP, Rosemont, Illinois
Over the past 12 months, we’ve seen public employment labor relations discussed not only by state and national political figures, put by the media, as well. Mr. Clark will give an overview of the national labor relations scene.

10:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. 

The State Perspective on Public Labor Relations Issues
Fred Hill, Former State Representative, Dallas
Mr. Hill will discuss public labor relations issues touched upon during the 2011 legislative session and will give us an overview of what to expect in the 2013 session. As a former State Representative, he will also provide tips on how to effectively provide testimony and/or lobby techniques.

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

Lunch

1:15 – 3:00 p.m.

Fire Association and Fire Administration Expectations During Negotiations pdf
Mike Higgins, Chief of Staff, Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, Austin; and Chris Connealy, Fire Chief, Cedar Park
Mr. Higgins will speak to us regarding the association’s expectations in relation to collective bargaining and meet and confer. Chief Connealy will discuss the expectations fire administration has while going through the collective bargaining process.

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.           

Break

3:15 – 5:00 p.m.

Techniques for Successful Negotiations pdf
Elizabeth M. Provencio, J.D., Denton, Navarro, Rocha and Bernal, P.C., San Antonio
Ms. Provencio has served as lead negotiator for several collective bargaining and meet and confer processes across the state. She will speak about interest-based bargaining and provide techniques and processes that yield success in negotiation cycles and resulting contracts.