Collective Bargaining
Christina counsels companies through collective bargaining, union organizing, and labor agreement enforcement. She represents industry trade groups in multiemployer bargaining, advises associations on 501(c)(6) compliance, and counsels their members on day-to-day labor issues. As in-house union counsel, she negotiated area-wide collective bargaining agreements with more than 18 multiemployer contractor associations.
Prevailing Wage and Renewable Energy
Christina counsels contractors and contractor associations on compliance with Illinois and federal prevailing wage requirements, including renewable energy mandates. She advises renewable energy clients on the issues unique to that industry, including prevailing wage obligations, wage and hour compliance, apprentice rates and certification, and audit readiness. She also negotiates, drafts, and enforces project labor agreements for major public and private construction work. She also represents companies before the Illinois Department of Labor in prevailing wage and wage and hour matters, assisting employers in responding to Department of Labor inquiries and challenging prevailing wage determinations. She writes and speaks often on Illinois prevailing wage developments.
Grievances, Arbitration, and Jurisdictional Disputes
Christina resolves grievances, prepares clients for Joint Grievance Committee and Joint Arbitration Board proceedings, and negotiates inter-union jurisdictional disputes. She handles withdrawal liability arbitrations and appeals for employers seeking fair union exit costs.
Trust Fund Audits and ERISA Matters
Christina represents employers in fringe benefit contribution audits by multiemployer pension and welfare funds at every stage, from audit preparation and compliance through challenge and defense, up to and including litigation in federal court. Her years as in-house counsel to multiemployer benefit funds, where she directed contribution audits and managed ERISA compliance litigation, give her insight into how funds approach audits and collections.
Labor Issues in Corporate Transactions
Christina conducts labor and employment due diligence in unionized asset and stock transactions. She advises on collective bargaining challenges between organizations with different union statuses, engages in effects bargaining, and helps clients mitigate and manage withdrawal liability.
Counseling and Training
Christina advises employers on day-to-day labor and employment matters and leads management trainings. She counsels non-signatory companies on union avoidance training and proactive labor relations strategies. Beyond construction, her clients include hotels, restaurants, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities.
