In The News
Notables lead LERA parade of speakers
The Wisconsin chapter of the Labor and Employment Relations Association has already set a prestigious first-half lineup of speakers for its luncheons starting Friday, September 23.
Nothing has been hotter in the news than the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, which deals with the state’s rules on public workers and has also had a number of its positions turned from civil service to political appointments by Gov. Walker. His budget has changed public workers’ situation by limiting bargaining rights to wages and it has also affected deeply both the county and city of Milwaukee. Meanwhile on the national level, there is new interest in the Railway Act of the 1930s, which controls labor decisions at the nation’s airports and railroads.
The speakers are key participants in such issues and headlines and will speak directly to them at the luncheons at Alioto’s Restaurant, 3041 N. Mayfair Rd.
On September 23, Peter Davis, the veteran general counsel for the WERC whose position and commission have been much in the news, will talk about what’s new at the WERC, a topic that should bring an interesting question period from the management, labor and academics who gather along with interested citizens for these meetings (registration at 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon, speaker about a half hour later, with varying costs for members and nonmembers).
On October 14, as the city is forming its new fiscal budget, the speaker will be Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
On Nov. 10. a rare Thursday luncheon to avoid conflicting holiday event, Tim Hort of Canadian National will discuss the Railway Act and the recent application of its regulations that have helped change the face of the nation’s air providers.
On December 9, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele is expected to address the fiscal status of the county, which is intrinsically tied to deficits inherited from the previous county executive whose new budget as governor has added a $30 million hole according to recent news reports.
For January, LERA is planning a one-day conference with date and speakers to be announced. Other luncheons are planned Feb. 19 and March 19, with a final dinner meeting in April. More details will unfold at www.uwm.edu/Org/LERA