JASON M. BAASTEN

**** ***** ******* ****** **, Canton, OH 44708

Home: 330-***-****

ac3r5h@r.postjobfree.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbaasten/

SUMMARY

Motivated and results-oriented Legal Professional with a successful 18-year record in Labor/Employment law and Human Resources Management. Focused on tactical, strategic and purpose-driven results to better organizations. Proven success in building relationships to motivate employees effectively and to gain trust from management and unions to provide innovative, organizational and business solutions.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Labor & Employment Law

Contract negotiations and reviews

Policy development & interpretation

Human Resources management

Strategic planning

Employee training

Employee management

Litigation/Arbitration

Workers' Compensation

Finance/Budgeting

Safety training

Presentation skills

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Successfully negotiated over 25 collective bargaining agreements with private and public sector unions as lead counsel.

Advised Human Resources personnel and Management staff in 13 states.

Collaborated with leadership to complete multiple reorganizations resulting in workforce efficiencies and alignment of human capital with the business strategy.

Combines business acumen and an aggressive approach to negotiations and grievance arbitrations to maximize profits and increase efficiencies.

Committed to maintaining professionalism and work ethic in deadline-driven, fast-paced environments.

Effectively integrated a new payroll structure to seamlessly transfer 20,000+ employees to a new system.

EXPERIENCE

AMERICAN RED CROSS

Cleveland, OH

Labor Relations Manager/HR Business Partner 08/2012 to 10/2017

Strategic partner to Regional Executives, Directors, Area Managers and HR Business Partners, providing daily expert advice on employee management and employment policies.

Provided legal interpretation of collective bargaining agreements in thirteen states, as well as to the National Contract that encompasses 80 local contracts and nine International Coalition Unions within the United States.

Traveled extensively throughout the United States to collaborate with our Labor Partners in successful resolution of operational issues and demands.

Defended organization through well-crafted grievance responses.

Trained new and existing staff employees, team supervisors and managers regarding personnel issues.

Investigated EEOC charges, OSHA complaints, Workers' Compensation claims and Unemployment claims.

Chaired local Labor-Management Committee monthly meetings in assigned territories.

Chaired local Safety Committee monthly meetings.

Presented frequently to Executive Advisory Committee, Staff In-service Meetings and the Finance & Operations Council of the Board of Directors regarding policy developments and claims management.

Managed the staff of the Joint Labor Team to ensure effective communication between labor and management.

FISHER & PHILLIPS, LLP

Cleveland, OH

Associate Attorney 05/2010 to 08/2012

Defended employers in all areas of employment law and workers' compensation, including Employment litigation, arbitrations, industrial commission hearings, and unemployment hearings.

Expertly negotiated labor contracts to realize necessary cost savings and win concessions from unions on protective contract language.

Negotiated and secured advantageous vendor contracts, insurance agreements, licensing agreements, subcontracting agreements, confidentiality agreements, and non-disclosure agreements on behalf of corporate clients.

Greatly reduced client liability by leading investigations of discrimination, wage/hour, and safety complaints.

Drafted effective personnel policies/handbooks and trained clients on the implementation of enforcement strategies.

Managed 50-60 cases consistently as well as serving as the point of contact for the firm's largest clients.

Crafted thorough and persuasive position statements and briefs, leading to the dismissal of virtually all charges brought against clients before the EEOC, OSHA, and NLRB.

Saved clients thousands of dollars in premiums and expenses by managing and controlling workers' compensation costs.

LAW OFFICES OF JASON M. BAASTEN

Canton, OH

Attorney 05/2007 to 05/2010

Represented companies in labor contract negotiations, arbitrations and litigation, and provided cost-saving advice on compliance issues, contract review, transactional matters, employee training, corporate formation and governance and general business issues.

Defended employers in employment law and workers' compensation.

KRUGLIAK, WILKINS, GRIFFITHS, & DOUGHERTY CO., L.P.A.

Canton, OH

Associate Attorney 02/2004 to 05/2007

Represented companies in labor contract negotiations, arbitrations, litigation, compliance issues, contract review, and regulatory inquiries to reduce liability and realize cost-saving opportunities.

Defended employers in all areas of employment law and workers' compensation.

BUCKINGHAM, DOOLITTLE, & BURROUGHS, LLP

Canton, OH

Associate Attorney 02/2002 to 02/2004

Represented companies in labor contract negotiations, arbitrations, litigation, compliance issues, contract review, and regulatory inquiries to reduce liability and realize cost-saving opportunities.

Defended employers in all areas of employment law and workers' compensation.

FIRSTGROUP AMERICA, INC.

Cincinnati, OH

Associate General Counsel 05/1999 to 02/2002

Managed and directed outside legal counsel in civil litigation complaints.

Supervised and instructed insurance claims investigators and retained counsel on claims.

Regulated all corporate governance of federal and state compliance issues.

Approved all contracts, leases, rental agreements, and responses to requests for proposals.

First Chair in Negotiations of collective bargaining agreements throughout the U.S.

Litigated the company's labor arbitrations and EEOC and NLRB charges, achieving an 80% success rate.

Coordinated efforts in NLRB election campaigns, winning all of them.

EDUCATION

J.D.: LAW 08/1996 to 05/1999

University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, OH, United States

BACHELOR OF ARTS: CLASSICS & PSYCHOLOGY, DOUBLE MAJOR 08/1992 to 05/1996

University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, United States

ACTIVITIES AND HONORS

Ohio Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2006

Ohio State Bar – Admitted, 1999

Contact this candidate