Employee Relations Assistant

SUSAN M. BUNGARD

Elyria, OH 440-***-**** ************@*****.*** linkedin.com/in/susan-bungard-0147447/

Labor and Employment Attorney

Dynamic legal professional with extensive knowledge and expertise in human resources, labor relations, and employment law. Diverse law background includes contracts, torts, landlord-tenant law, liquor law, and public law, including enforcement matters, consumer protection, fair housing, and state and federal litigation. Self-motivated, detail-oriented leader with strong time-management and organizational skills. Excels at relationship building, verbal and written communications, negotiations, mediation, and conflict resolution.

Labor Relations

Employment Law

Human Resources

Collective Bargaining

Contract Negotiations

Presentations

Training & Development

Stakeholder Management

Regulatory Compliance

Workers’ Compensation

Employee Benefits

Policies & Procedures

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ARCELORMITAL STEEL 2020 – Present

Labor Relations Representative

Attend disciplinary investigations and advise management on action to be taken including decisions on suspension pending discharge. Provide advice on issues filed in the grievance procedure, attend hearings, and draft grievance answers and minutes. Responsible for preparation and presentation of cases in arbitration proceedings. Investigate and draft Company’s position statement for EEOC and Ohio Civil Rights Commission charges filed by employees. Investigate and draft Company’s position for NLRB charges filed. Represent the Company in unemployment compensation hearings. Negotiate and draft any departmental mutual agreements. Develop and deliver LR training that may be needed or requested for operating management. Maintain active involvement and interaction with local union representatives and department management to help foster a positive labor/management relationship. Assist with layoff minimization plan and prepare Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notices to union and governmental entities. Work in a heavy industrial setting and with employees in a strong union environment. Help lead change in the union and employee relations area to make the Company both stronger and a better place to work. Interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreement(s).

CADENCE COUNSEL 2019 – 2020

Attorney, Cleveland, Ohio

Reviewed discovery documents for privilege, confidentiality, and responsiveness as part of long-term assignment for major pharmaceutical company and a premier telecommunications manufacturer.

OHIO PATROLMEN’S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION 2018 – 2019

Attorney

Facilitated inquiries for more than 700 members on employment legal issues, such as FMLA, FLSA, ADA, EEO, pregnancy rights, and sexual harassment. Provided advice and support on human resources matters, including workers’ compensation, pensions, disability, and employee benefits. Managed collective bargaining for approximately 50 separate police units throughout northern Ohio. Prepared and processed grievances and unfair labor practice charges. Communicated daily with police officers, deputies, corrections officers, dispatchers, and other law enforcement personnel to analyze and resolve member service issues.

Negotiated more than 20 contracts while handling day-to-day member issues in 2018.

Settled more than 15 labor agreements in less than 1 year.

Saved several officers’ jobs by effectively representing police officers, deputies, corrections officers, dispatchers, and other law enforcement personnel in disciplinary and grievance hearings, mediations, and arbitrations.

WALTER HAVERFIELD LLP 2016 – 2018

Associate – Public Law and Beverage Law Sections

Represented diverse permit applicants, liquor permit holders, and northern Ohio municipalities in zoning and land use matters. Processed municipal applications and permits for zoning, building and housing, food service, and other issues. Prepared legislation to support client objectives. Led training seminars. Performed legal research and writing to support cases. Prepared required documentation for Ohio Civil Rights Commission issues.

Investigated internal employment issues for Ohio municipality.

Wrote and updated Civil Service Rules and Employee Handbook.

Convinced judge, who rarely granted summary judgments based on statutory immunity, to grant summary judgment in favor of client.

CITY OF CLEVELAND 2011 – 2016

Assistant Director of Law – Department of Law, Public Safety Section

Managed major litigation and high-dollar cases for the City. Represented Department of Public Safety in employment matters, including disciplinary hearings, contract negotiations, and arbitrations. Coordinated and resolved issues with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission, State Employment Relations Board, and Civil Service Commission. Cultivated relationships with high-ranking policymakers, providing legal advice and consulting on policies and procedures.

Managed all Cleveland liquor permitting and control matters as accomplished Subject Matter Expert.

Prepared Ohio liquor legislation related to the Republican National Convention.

Chaired mayoral-level committee examining outdoor refreshment areas.

Improved local neighborhoods by closing down many problem liquor permit premises.

Informed decision-making by analyzing conflict-of-interest issues and assessing political terrain.

Previous Experience

Consumer Advocate/Assistant Director of Law – Department of Consumer Affairs, CITY OF CLEVELAND

Assistant Director of Law – Department of Law, Code Enforcement Section, CITY OF CLEVELAND

Staff Attorney, CUYAHOGA METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Master of Public Administration Candidate, September 2020

Certificate in Non-Profit Management, September 2020

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, Kent, OH

Juris Doctor

CLEVELAND-MARSHALL COLLEGE OF LAW, Cleveland, OH

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Cum Laude

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, Kent, OH

Bar Admissions

Ohio Bar (0058450)

United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio

United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Memberships

Society for Human Resources Management, 2019 – Present

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