Labor Relations Partner

PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, WA, is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a multi-specialty medical group practice with more than 800 physicians and providers, a comprehensive laboratory system, and ten medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth.

Promotes constructive labor relations by providing leadership, representation, coordination, advice and support to operations leadership and Human Resources Caregivers in all aspects of labor relations, including contract administration, grievance handling, arbitrations, collective bargaining and NLRB unfair labor practice charges. Maintains effective business relationships with unions, legal counsel, HR Partner Organization, Rewards COE, HRMS, CRC and Talent Acquisition. Aligns People and Culture solutions with PeaceHealth organizational strategies, key objectives and mission.

• Acts as the main HR contact for senior level leaders on labor relations. Develops and implements strategic priorities that support mission, operational and department goals. Ensures alignment of strategic priorities with System-Wide PeaceHealth initiatives.
• Administer, maintain and monitor various databases utilized in labor relations, including grievance tracking database and corrective action database. Generate regular activity reports of grievances and analyze grievance trends.
• Respond to inquiries and questions from leadership and HR and provides interpretation of labor laws on such topics as just cause, union access, unfair labor practice charges and human resource practices. Evaluates various situations as they arise by interviewing witnesses, reviewing policies/relevant documentation, contracts, conducting legal research and identifying strategies for PeaceHealth’s leadership response. Provide technical support in preparation for grievance meeting, arbitrations, mediations, or NLRB proceedings; collect and review supportive documentation for grievances, arbitrations, mediation, and NLRB proceedings.
• Conduct research on collective bargaining agreements and past practices to prepare responses to employee grievances and disputes in collaboration with key stakeholders. Identify and research significant or controversial labor issues. Prepare documents, reports and exhibits necessary to administer contract and grievance processes, including arbitration and NLRB hearing preparation.
• Participate in or lead labor negotiations meetings. Provide technical support on the formulation of management proposals in preparation for labor negotiations. Collaborates in the formulation of management proposals with key stakeholders, i.e. Rewards COE, HRMS, etc. to ensure alignment with system strategic initiatives and PeaceHealth’s readiness/ability to support proposals.
• Assist in the development and delivery of training regarding a variety of labor relations topics, including specific training on grievance process/grievance database and other training as necessary. Assist with training key stakeholders on new and/or changed contract language, side letters and memorandum of agreements.
• May coordinate or lead HRPO project work to include policy review, standardizing processes, competency development, and roll-out of initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Labor relations experience: basic understanding of NLRB actions (unfair labor practices, elections), some negotiations experiences, grievance handling, and arbitration preparation.
• Employee Relations experience: basic HR knowledge and skills, understanding of labor and employment laws
• Health care industry experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Labor Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration, or other relevant discipline is required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience/Training

• Minimum of eight years human resource experience in an HR Partner, HR Consultant and Labor Relations, preferably in the healthcare industry.
• Experience in organizations comprised of both union and non-union employees preferred.
• Experience with grievances, arbitration and negotiations as it pertains to collective bargaining agreements.

License/Certification

• PHR/SHRM-CP, SPHR/SHRM-SCP, or JD preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of Labor Laws, i.e. National Labor Relations Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, etc.
• Skill in writing clear, concise, analytical, legally correct, accurate and persuasive briefs, grievance responses, and management positions.
• Skill in analyzing labor relations information, data, problems, practices or procedures to define problems or objects, consider alternative solutions, consequences and propose solutions.
• Ability to build strong and trusting relationships with caregivers and leadership.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance, federal and state laws.
• Working knowledge of multiple human resource disciplines.
• Knowledge of employee & labor relations.
• Mediation and conflict resolutions skills.
• Investigation skills.
• Knowledge of organizational and team dynamics and methods to support continued improvement in these areas
• Ability to develop and present concise information.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of operations within the healthcare industry.
• Ability to identify, utilize and interpret workforce-related metrics.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office application as required.
• Proficient in the use of a major HRIS system preferred.