Cornell Labor Programs

The goal of this workshop is to increase the effectiveness and creativity of union officers, staff and bargaining committee members-and new benefit fund trustees and staff-who are engaged in collective bargaining and who need to better understand the fundamentals of employee benefits from the union side. This workshop will examine benefit funds in both the public and private sectors, and focus on how union leaders can handle benefits issues strategically.

Key Topics

• Basics of benefit plan design and alternative models for the delivery of employee benefits
• Creative collective bargaining over employee benefits
• Disclosure requirements and their strategic uses
• Communication of benefits (fully informing plan participants)
• Principles of trust fund governance and of capital stewardship for pension trustees
• Fiduciary duty and conflicts of interest; and the authority, duties and rights of trustees
• Funding deficiencies and surpluses
• Protecting defined benefit plans from employers who prefer defined contribution schemes
• The health care wars and Social Security: organized labor's stake in the debate

Instructor

Larry Magarik, Esq., is a leading union and employee benefits attorney with more than 30 years experience, and a seasoned labor instructor at Cornell University's ILR School in NYC.