Several members of Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) presented at the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) Annual Training Conference in Monterey from November 16-19, 2021.

CALPELRA provides training and professional development for California public sector labor and employment professionals. The Annual Conference, themed “Color Your Space: A Spectrum of Opportunities,” gives attendees the opportunity to improve their skills and build connections.

RPLG subject matter experts presented on topics ranging from police reform and pension spiking to recent PERB outcomes:

  • In the presentation “Vested Pension Rights: How Courts Are Applying the New Standards?” Of Counsel Steve Cikes and Partner Ryan McGinley-Stempel examined how vested pension benefits may be affected by a recent California Supreme Court decision. View the presentation
  • Partner Jon Holtzman joined LaWanna Preston, Director of Labor Relations for the San Francisco Police Department, Mariah Thompson, Staff Attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance, and Gloria Hernandez, Director, Fresno Stolen Lives, to explore how collective bargaining may affect police reform and how to negotiate for flexibility in future reform. The panel is titled “Police Reform Meets Collective Bargaining.” View the presentation
  • In the general session, “Legal Strategies” Jon partnered with Irma Rodriguez Moisa, Partner, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, Peter J. Brown, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, Timothy L. Davis, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, and Janet Cory Sommer, CEO, CALPELRA, to discuss highlights of the past year’s legislation.
  • During a Sparks segment titled “Has PERB Lost all Credibility?” Founding Partner Art Hartinger discussed recent PERB outcomes to ponder how to restore credibility to this important agency.
  • Finally, Art will presented a Sparks segment, “Is it Time to Jettison Binding Arbitration?” to consider whether public agencies should phase out binding arbitration and explore potential alternatives.

“Labor relations and human resources professionals are facing a unique set of challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic, many of which RPLG has studied and worked on over the last year,” said Art. “We are grateful for the opportunity to share what we’ve learned and hear from others at the Annual Training Conference.”

Learn more about CALPELRA’s 2021 Annual Conference.

RPLG practices throughout California, advising and advocating for public agencies, nonprofit entities, individuals and private entities in need of effective, responsive and creative legal solutions.