DEBORAH A. SINGER

*** ******** ******

New York, NY 10012

Cell: 917-***-**** abl32i@r.postjobfree.com

Labor Relations Director/ ATTORNEY

Skilled attorney with 19 years of experience in all phases of labor relations including grievance handling, discipline,

arbitration, and compliance with state and federal employment laws for both labor and management.

● Labor Law and EEO Compliance ● Collective Bargaining and Negotiations

● Public and Private Sector Labor Relations ● Instructor, Grievances and Discipline

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

January 2012 – April 2014

NYC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Flushing, NY

Director of Labor Relations

Bureau of Organizational Development

Responsible for directing Labor Relations department for NYC Ag ency with 6,000 employees and 33 different

unions, including management ofdisciplinary and labor departments.

Counseled DEP Commissioner and managers on collective bargaining matters, labor and disciplinary

issues, grievances, rules and regulations, contract interpretation, litigation, and improper practices.

Supervised staff of 4 attorneys and 2 administrators.

Conducted labor/management meetings with high-level union officials to resolve contractual issues.

Coordinated with Human Resources, EEO, and EHS departments on agency-wide employment

policies.

Drafted and conducted training modules on labor and discipline for supervisors and managers.

Represented agency as Step II hearing officer for terminations; represented agency for Step III

grievance and discipline hearings at Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations.

Served as client for grievance and discipline arbitrations.

Interfaced with Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations regarding contract negotiations and city-wide

labor/management issues affecting multiple agencies.

Participated in monthly meetings on behalf of Labor Relations for Environmental Health and Safety,

Quality of Work Life, Equipment, and Agency Administration.

W orked closely with Deputy Commissioner for Organizational Development on restructuring the Labor

Relations department to meet Agency goals with respect to boosting employee morale, saving costs,

and improving relations with unions.

Created and led “Round Table” informal style training of high -level managers.

Sat on DEP Accident Review Board, Workplace Violence Task Force, and Disciplinary Panel.

Developed and implemented Progressive Discipline policy for Agency ; developed creative settlement

modules for disciplinary actions.

Cont’d

Deborah Singer / 2

November 2008 – December 2011

MTA BUS COMPANY

Flushing, NY

Director of Grievances and Discipline

Responsible for all aspects of labor relations including arbitrations, collective bargaining negotiations and contract

interpretation.

Represented MTA Bus Company at discipline and grievance arbitrations.

Provided counsel to senior management regarding labor relations and discipline ; attended

labor/management meetings on behalf of Company.

Investigated grievances and EEO complaints by interviewing employees on site.

Examined agency practices and policies for possible violations; worked closely with General Counsel,

Human Resources, and EEO Counsel on outstanding cases and policies.

Compiled and submitted labor-related reports; prepared contracts, settlement agreements, and briefs.

Interpreted and re-drafted policies for senior management; drafted rules and regulations regarding

agency discipline policies.

Hearing Officer for Step III grievance hearings; drafted Step III decisions.

Interpreted and administered collective bargaining agreements with respect to grievances, wages and

salaries, promotions, and union/ management practices.

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS, LOCAL 237 January 2002 - October 2008

New York, NY

In-House Counsel and Citywide Grievance Coordinator

Handled all phases of public-sector grievance arbitration for largest Teamster local union, including trying

disciplinary and contractual arbitrations.

Represented union members at Step II hearings at CUNY and in Section 75 hearings at OATH and

NYC Housing Authority.

Coordinated litigation and arbitration with outside counsel .

Drafted and filed group grievances for Step III of the grievance procedure and arbitration at OCB and

Board of Education.

Served as client at grievance and disciplinary arbitrations for cases heard at NYC Mayor’s Office of

Collective Bargaining.

Counseled union President and business agent staff in preparing for arbitration and litigation.

Negotiated settlement agreements, including global agreements for settling EEO claims; led labor

relations meetings on behalf of the union; analyzed and interpreted collective bargaining agreements

for business agents and union officers.

Instructed business agents and shop stewards on filing grievances and representation of employees at

disciplinary hearings.

Drafted correspondence on behalf of union directors; drafted me mos regarding internal policies.

Cont’d

Deborah Singer / 3

MEYER, SUOZZI, ENGLISH & KLEIN, P.C. August 1998 - September 2001

New York, NY

Associate

Handled all phases of public-sector grievance arbitration for Teamsters Local 237 and SEIU, Local 1199, including

trying standard and expedited arbitrations on behalf of city agency professionals and laborers.

Represented SEIU, Local 1199 in grievance arbitration and disciplinary license hearings before the

State Education Department.

Represented Local 237 members at arbitration, OATH hearings and Civil Service Law Section 75

hearings before Administrative Law Judges.

Drafted litigation on behalf of Local 237 for Civil Service Law violations and arbitrability challenges.

Represented members at NYPD Internal Affairs, NYPD Licensing hearings, and Department of

Investigation hearings.

COHEN, WEISS & SIMON August 1997 - August 1998

New York, NY

Associate

Researched and drafted briefs on federal and labor law claims, including duty of fair representation cases under the

LMRA. Handled grievance arbitration for union locals, including drafting of post -arbitration briefs. Filed and defended

against Unfair Labor Practice charges before the NLRB; conducted depositions, drafted discovery requests, and

executed document production in litigation and arbitrations.

HOTEL EMPLOYEES AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES UNION January 1995 - July 1997

LOCAL 100, AFL-CIO

New York, NY

In-house Counsel

Represented union members at grievance arbitrations; conducted settlement negotiations; filed Unfair Labor

Practice charges with the NLRB; represented union at NLRB Complaint Hearings; a nalyzed and interpreted

collective bargaining agreements for more than 200 restaurants; worked closely with organizing staff in preparing

litigation; attended union conventions to educate union members regarding their rights under their respective

collective bargaining agreements.

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

Juris Doctor (1994)

Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, NY

Trial Advocacy Club

National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial Techniques course, 1993

B.F.A., New York University, New York, NY (1981)

Major: Acting; Minor: Art History

Licensed to practice law in New York and Admitted in New Jersey

* Honorary Member of Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild

* Proficient in conversational French and Spanish * Avid Golfer

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