Protecting Workers' Rights, Strengthening Union Position
When your union faces critical negotiations, workplace disputes, or regulatory challenges, the stakes couldn't be higher. Your members depend on you to secure fair wages, protect their benefits, and ensure safe working conditions.
Protecting Workers' Rights, Strengthening Union Position
Above-Market
Wage increases secured
Comprehensive
Benefit packages negotiated
Industry-Leading
Safety protections
When your union faces critical contract negotiations, workplace disputes, or regulatory challenges, the stakes couldn't be higher. Your members depend on you to secure fair wages, protect their benefits, and ensure safe working conditions. That's where our skilled advocacy translates directly into better contracts and stronger protections for our clients.
We've dedicated our careers to helping unions across construction, industrial manufacturing, and service sectors achieve measurable victories that directly impact workers' lives. Our clients consistently secure above-market wage increases, comprehensive benefit packages, and industry-leading safety protections because we combine deep legal expertise with strategic bargaining power.
Our full-service approach covers all aspects of labor law, ensuring that your organization operates effectively while your members receive the protection and representation they deserve.
Comprehensive Labor Law Services
Our full-service approach covers all aspects of labor law, ensuring that your organization operates effectively while your members receive the protection and representation they deserve.
Strategy and advocacy through every stage of bargaining.
We guide unions through every stage of collective bargaining, from initial preparation and strategy development to final agreement ratification. Our attorneys work closely with union leadership and rank and file members to secure favorable terms on wages, benefits, working conditions, job-security provisions, and grievance procedures across construction, industrial, and service sectors.
Questions about contract negotiations? Speak with our team.
Strategy and advocacy through every stage of bargaining.
We guide unions through every stage of collective bargaining, from initial preparation and strategy development to final agreement ratification. Our attorneys work closely with union leadership and rank and file members to secure favorable terms on wages, benefits, working conditions, job-security provisions, and grievance procedures across construction, industrial, and service sectors.
Arbitration Representation
Skilled advocacy in grievance and contract arbitrations.
When contract disputes or employee grievances arise, we provide skilled advocacy in arbitration hearings to resolve grievances efficiently and cost-effectively. We handle cases involving disciplinary actions, contract interpretation, benefit disputes, and workplace violations, ensuring that workers receive fair treatment under their collective-bargaining agreements.
Unfair Practices
Prosecuting and defending ULP charges before the NLRB, ILRB and IELRB.
We prosecute and defend unfair labor-practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and state labor-relations boards. Our team addresses violations of workers' rights to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in protected concerted activities, while also defending unions against retaliatory charges.
Wage Theft
Strategic detection, prevention & enforcement.
We counsel unions and workers on strategic efforts to detect, prevent, and remedy wage theft in the construction industry and beyond. Our work includes developing coordinated strategies with unions, benefit funds, auditors, and workers to identify suspected wage theft and pursue appropriate legal remedies. MKR has also been at the forefront of promoting state and federal legislation to protect workers from wage theft schemes.
Union Certification
Petitions, elections, and recognition of new bargaining units.
We prepare and process representation petitions to help workers establish new bargaining units and achieve union recognition. Our services include navigating NLRB certification procedures, addressing employer challenges, conducting election campaigns, and securing certification for newly organized workplaces.
Prevailing Wages
Davis-Bacon and state prevailing-wage enforcement.
We enforce compliance with Davis-Bacon Act requirements and state prevailing wage laws to ensure that workers on public projects receive fair compensation. Our attorneys investigate wage violations, file complaints with relevant agencies, and pursue recovery of unpaid wages and benefits for affected workers.
Organizing Campaigns
Concerted activity, picketing, bannering, handbilling, social media and lawful messaging.
We provide strategic counsel on concerted activities including picketing, bannering, leafletting, and innovative organizing tactics. Our guidance helps unions effectively communicate their message while staying within legal boundaries and maximizing impact through traditional and digital platforms.
Union Governance
Elections, member rights, and internal union governance.
We advise union officers and representatives on internal governance matters including election procedures, constitutional compliance, member rights, and internal processes. Our counsel ensures that unions operate transparently and in accordance with state and federal labor laws and their own governing documents.
Regulatory Compliance
DOL, IRS, and government reporting and compliance.
We assist unions, benefit funds and their trustees with Department of Labor reporting requirements, Internal Revenue Service obligations, and other federal and state compliance matters. Our services include audit preparation, response to government inquiries, and ongoing guidance to maintain good standing with regulatory agencies. We also advise benefit funds and trustees on compliance matters arising in the administration and governance of employee benefit plans, including those under ERISA.
Constitutional Development
Drafting and updating constitutions, bylaws and policies.
We draft, review, and update union constitutions and bylaws to reflect current legal requirements and organizational needs. Our work ensures that these foundational documents provide clear governance structures and operational efficiency while protecting member rights and union interests.
Workplace Safety
OSHA enforcement and safety provisions in contracts.
We advocate for safe working conditions through contract negotiations, OSHA-compliant procedures, and enforcement actions. Our attorneys work to establish comprehensive safety protocols, investigate workplace incidents, and hold employers accountable for maintaining hazard-free environments.
Strike Support
Lawful work stoppages, picketing, and dispute resolution.
We provide legal guidance during work stoppages, including preparation for lawful strikes, coordination with picket-line activities, and resolution of strike-related disputes. Our counsel helps unions exercise their right to strike while minimizing legal risks and maximizing bargaining leverage.
The MKR Advantage
Why unions choose us
Strategic Bargaining Power
Established legal expertise combined with hard-earned leverage at the table — measurable wins on wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Multi-Sector Experience
Construction, industrial manufacturing, and service unions across decades of contracts, arbitrations, and NLRB matters.
Union-Side Only
We represent workers and the institutions that protect them — never management. Our loyalty is undivided.
Frequently Asked
Labor law questions, answered
Practical guidance for union officers, stewards, and members.
What does a labor lawyer do for a union?
Labor lawyers represent unions in collective bargaining, arbitrations, NLRB proceedings, organizing campaigns, internal governance, and compliance with federal and state labor laws — protecting both the institution and the members it represents.
How does the collective bargaining process work?
Collective bargaining typically involves preparation and research, exchange of proposals at the table, negotiation over wages, benefits, and working conditions, tentative agreement, and ratification by the membership. Working with union officials to establish strategy at every stage and secure terms that hold up in practice.
What is an unfair labor practice (ULP)?
A ULP is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act — typically by an employer interfering with workers' rights to organize or bargain, or by a union breaching its duties. ULP charges are filed with the NLRB and can result in remedies including reinstatement, back pay, and posted notices.
How are arbitrations different from court cases?
Arbitrations are private, contractual proceedings under a collective bargaining agreement. They are typically faster, less formal, and less expensive than litigation, and the arbitrator's decision is generally final and binding — which makes preparation and advocacy critical.
What are prevailing wage laws and who do they protect?
The federal Davis-Bacon Act and state prevailing wage statutes require contractors on public projects to pay workers locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits. They protect workers from being underbid by low-wage competition on taxpayer-funded work, and we pursue recovery when employers fall short.
When does a strike become unlawful?
Most strikes over wages, hours, and working conditions are legally protected, but strikes in violation of a no-strike clause, secondary boycotts, or strikes during a contract's term can lose protection. Always consult counsel before authorizing a work stoppage so the union's leverage isn't undermined by legal exposure.
