Labor Attorney

About the role

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Position: Labor Attorney, reporting to the Labor Relations Supervisor, Senior Director, Administrative Trials & Hearings and Labor Cost Control, located at 2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.

Represents the Authority at administrative labor hearings and at arbitrations involving labor relations issues such as contract interpretation, disciplinary matters, medical appeals, Civil Service Law, and matters affecting Authority-wide policy and procedures, as well as performs related tasks such as investigating labor disputes, interviewing witnesses, developing litigation strategy, performing legal research, and preparing legal memoranda. Serves as labor counsel to department and senior management in formulating labor relations policy and assists in administering collective bargaining agreements. Writes, reviews, and assists in the formulation of labor relations policy.

Responsibilities

• Represents Authorities in administrative hearings and arbitrations involving labor relations issues such as contract interpretation, discipline, Civil Service Law, matters affecting authority-wide policy and procedures, and involuntary medical leave.
• Handles complex contractual grievances that may have Authority-wide operational impact.
• Prepares schedules for all arbitrations and administrative hearings.
• Serves as labor counsel to department and senior management in formulating labor relations policy and assists in administering collective bargaining agreements.
• Investigates labor disputes, prepares legal memoranda and witnesses to testify at arbitration hearings, develops litigation strategies, and performs extensive legal research concerning rules, regulations, and prior contract and discipline grievance awards.
• Ensures administrative updates for contract and disciplinary data generated from hearings are done effectively.
• Assists in contract negotiations and investigations.
• Advises, trains, and acts as a liaison to the Labor Relations Staff in the various departments throughout the Authority.
• Assures uniformity of interpretation of policy and collective bargaining agreements and maintains a consistent and appropriate application of progressive discipline.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.
• May be required to work hours outside regular work hours, as applicable.
• Observes the work performed by contractors, as applicable.
• Reviews invoices and approves them if the work has contractual standards, as applicable.
• Addresses performance issues with the contractor when possible, as applicable.
• Escalates issues to other parties when needed, as applicable.

Qualifications

JD from an accredited law school and NYS Bar Admission.

Major Field of Study: Law.

Minimum 3 years of experience, post-passing the bar exam, in Labor Relations with emphasis on Legal analysis.

Skills

• Knowledge of laws,