Labor Management Relations

Despite the decline of union membership in the United States over the last few decades, labor relations remain critical for owners and management. Constructive labor relations provide businesses with a competitive advantage by avoiding the negative impact of labor- or union-related issues and conflicts. When there are clashes or disagreements between management and labor, Blank Rome has the advocates to protect the employer’s interests. The clients we represent range from small and family-owned businesses to multibillion-dollar publicly traded companies that encompass up to several thousands of employees. 

We have successfully guided countless employers through labor and organizing issues, and we have handled matters with numerous international labor unions as well as their various locals around the country. We counsel clients across a wide range of industries on preventative labor law strategies and the development of positive employee relations policies. Our team combines the depth and experience of a large firm practice with a commitment to providing close personal attention to our clients and the sensitive matters involved.

Our team works with our clients to prevent unionization and, where clients already have unionized workers, to manage the labor-management relationship. We represent and help our clients navigate all issues before the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”), as well as collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations, strikes, picketing, and labor injunctions.

How We Can Help 

• Developing and implementing employment policies and strategies that minimize the need for, and likelihood of employees seeking, third-party representation
• Advising and guiding our clients during union organizing efforts and representing them before the NLRB and state labor boards when confronted with organizing issues and unfair labor practice charges
• Developing labor relations strategies and supporting our clients to deploy their own resources effectively and efficiently for bargaining and labor-related negotiations
• Providing business-minded counsel to both national and regional employers on labor relations issues, including decertification elections and negotiating initial and successor union collective bargaining agreements
• Counseling on injunction matters involving labor disputes, enjoining mass picketing, and preparing for work stoppages (such as strikes or lockouts)
• Selecting labor arbitrators in the grievance and arbitration process under collective bargaining agreements
• Administering collective bargaining agreements, assisting in the grievance procedure, and representation in arbitration hearings involving contract interpretation, employee discharge, and/or suspension cases
• Providing supervisor and management training focused on managing without interference and identifying and resolving workplace issues and/or labor relations concerns that are unique to their business

What Sets Us Apart

• We have negotiated collective bargaining agreements covering as few as two workers and others covering more than 10,000. In many cases, these collective bargaining agreements include complex health and welfare benefit and retirement plan issues, and we call upon our employee benefit colleagues for assistance in this area.
• Ranked Tier 1 in 2025 Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” (Woodward/White, Inc.) nationally for Labor Law – Management and Litigation – Labor and Employment and in Philadelphia for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment. Also ranked nationally for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Employment Law – Management, and regionally for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment.
• Our goal is to invest in building long-term relationships as strategic members of the client business team and to create client service teams to ensure effective and efficient delivery of legal services.
• We have vast experience with many of the specialized labor arbitrators who routinely appear on lists from the American Arbitration Association, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and JAMS.
• We emphasize and leverage proactive, preventive measures to preempt problems before they arise.
• We provide value-added services to our clients, including in-house training programs, CLE programs, legal briefings, and newsletters.
• We endeavor to be business partners who invest and work to understand your operational needs so that we can advocate and negotiate effectively on your behalf.