Labor relations specialists interpret and administer labor contracts regarding issues such as wages and salaries, healthcare, pensions, and union and management practices.

Duties

Labor relations specialists typically do the following:

• Advise management on contracts, worker grievances, and disciplinary procedures
• Lead meetings between management and labor
• Meet with union representatives
• Draft proposals and rules or regulations
• Ensure that human resources policies are consistent with union agreements
• Interpret formal communications between management and labor
• Investigate validity of labor grievances
• Train management on labor relations

Labor relations specialists work with representatives in a labor union and a company's management. In addition to leading meetings between the two groups, these specialists draft formal language as part of the collective bargaining process. These contracts are called collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and they serve as a legal and procedural guide for employee/management relations.

Labor relations specialists also address specific grievances a worker might have, and ensure that all labor and management solutions comply within the relevant agreement.