Human Resources Management
Resume:
HOWARD J. PRIPAS
Oakland, California 94612
PROFILE
Human Resources Leader with twenty nine years experience in higher
education and health care. Demonstrated track record as effective leader
of human resources professional staff. Proven record as chief spokesperson
with ability to balance the employer mission, including operational and
fiscal interests, with employee and union concerns to achieve mutually
beneficial positive outcomes. Insightful management strategist. Highly
skilled in identifying costs associated with changes in policy and
collective bargaining agreements. Legal training and expertise consistently
utilized in problem solving. Successful negotiator of merit pay systems in
faculty and staff contracts. Leader in providing and developing
organizational training. Effective spokesperson with external
organizations, including executive and legislative bodies. Able to
mobilize organizational support for strategic objectives. Takes pride in
ability to find appropriate and creative resolutions for employment issues
in diverse working environments.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Executive Director, Labor Relations: April 2004 - September 2008
Director of Collective Bargaining: October 2008 - present
University of California (UC), Office of the President, Oakland, California
Responsible for the direction and oversight of labor relations for
unionized
academic and non-academic staff in the University of California
system:
approximately 67,000 employees. Responsible for bargaining and
ongoing labor
relations for ten system-wide bargaining units and twelve bargaining
units at
individual UC campuses. Supervises professional and support staff.
Coordinates UC labor relations activities with ten campuses, five
medical centers, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories.
Consults with Human Resources
colleagues on a multitude of compensation issues and policy issues.
Directs Labor Relations staff in contract negotiations, responses to
information requests, responses to organizational petitions and
activities, contract administration, unfair practice proceedings and
Labor-Management Committees. Develops and
maintains effective working relationships with UC internal
stakeholders, including senior leadership, medical center leadership,
academic leadership and human resources leadership. Coordinates work
of Labor Relations unit with strategic communications team and
governmental relations colleagues. Intensively works with the Office
of General Counsel (OGC) and outside counsel on a wide range of
issues. Develops and maintains effective working relationships with
union leadership.
. Established interest-based negotiations for successor
bargaining with
largest UC group of represented employees in 2008
(Clerical Unit)
. Developed effective, cohesive and collaborative team in
the Labor
Relations Unit. Consistently supported staff
development through training
and opportunities for expanded responsibilities.
Successfully promoted
from within organization.
. Successfully supervised UC response to UAW petition to
organize
six thousand postdoctoral fellows (July- October 2006).
In 2008, engaged
in discussions with UAW that resulted in fewer
allegations of union
misconduct during subsequent organizational drive.
. Averted UAW job action in 2007 through intensive
negotiations which
included establishment of "family friendly" features in
new contract
. Throughout May- July 2008, coordinated efforts with OGC,
outside
counsel, colleagues throughout system and HR/LR staff
that led to
restraint and limitations of two strikes at UC Medical
Centers
Director of Labor Relations: February 2001 - March 2004
University of Washington (UW), Seattle, Washington
Responsible for the direction and oversight of labor relations for
academic and non-academic employees of
research university with approximately 22,000 staff and faculty.
Developed bargaining strategies (including management proposals),
analyzed impact of union proposals and served as chief spokesperson
for major bargaining units. Directed the Labor Relations staff in
contract negotiations with eighteen bargaining units, Labor-Management
Committees, unfair practice proceedings, union certification
proceedings, and contract administration. Provided advice to staff
and leadership of Human Resource Operations units. Developed and
maintained effective relationships with union representatives and with
internal University stakeholders, including academic leadership,
medical center leadership and senior administration.
. Successfully negotiated first UW contract with Research
Technology staff
. Negotiated University-wide clerical contract covering
4,000 staff in a
timely manner without work stoppage.
. Taught section of UW Graduate School of Education course
on Higher
Education Collective Bargaining. Initiation of
Labor Relations curriculum
into mandatory University-wide management course.
Director of Labor Relations: June 1992 - February 2001
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Newark, New
Jersey
Responsible for labor relations of research university with 11,500
employees in higher education, medical and allied health services,
mental health services and research. Responsible for policy for
nonrepresented staff, including University-wide parking program.
Served as chief spokesperson for thirteen bargaining units, including
faculty bargaining units and interns and residents bargaining units.
Represented UMDNJ at Public Employment Relations Commission for unfair
practice cases, union organizational cases and fact-finding.
Represented the University before the New Jersey State Legislature and
executive agencies on human resources issues. Directed contract
administration process. Supervised the representation of UMDNJ in
labor arbitration cases. Conducted ad hoc and regularly scheduled
labor-management committees. Provided training to supervisors and
managers. Responsible for writing/updating of staff handbook and new
guide for supervisors and managers. Supervised labor relations staff
at University Hospital in Newark, University-wide labor relations
staff, Human Resource Directors on Central New Jersey and Southern New
Jersey campuses and information services staff.
. Led or supervised negotiations for 35 contracts without
any work stoppages
. Led University-wide cost containment by negotiating
wage/salary patterns
significantly less than State government negotiated
settlements
. Successfully reduced staff contract costs by
changing premium pay provisions, overtime
provisions, sick leave provisions and workers compensation
costs.
. Negotiated merit pay tied to performance evaluations
in faculty and staff contracts.
Director of Labor Relations/Labor Relations Counsel: December 1988 -
June 1992
Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center, Brooklyn, New York
Responsible for employee and labor relations of Hospital with 2500
unionized and non unionized employees. Represented the Hospital in
labor arbitrations, administrative hearings and EEO cases. Served as
chief legal advisor to senior management. Monitored and directed
disciplinary process. Conducted labor-management meetings. Provided
monthly training to supervisors and managers.
Associate Counsel: June 1983 -December 1988
Staff Attorney: October 1981 - May 1983
New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), New York, New York
As member of Office of Labor Relations Counsel, represented HHC and
seventeen corporate institutions (public hospitals) in arbitrations,
unfair practice proceedings and administrative hearings. Represented
HHC at labor contract negotiations. Delivered training on legal
issues. Provided employee and labor relations advice to human
resources staff at corporate institutions and to corporate wide
management.
Staff Analyst: December 1980 - September 1981
New York City Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New York, New York
As member of Labor Contract Unit, prepared submissions of New York
City's labor contracts to Financial Control Board and Special State
Deputy Comptroller. Prepared data for negotiations. Represented OMB on
inter-agency task forces. Drafted procedures for implementation of
broadbanding and alternate work schedules. Supervised assistant staff
analysts.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor, New York University School of Law - June 1979
Bachelor of Science, Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University -
Jan. 1976
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