The Office of Labor Relations oversees CTECS’ labor relations at all CTECS technical high school locations. It negotiates and administers collective bargaining agreements for School Administrators (AFSA), and Technical High School Instructors (SVFT). We assist the State of Connecticut, Office of Labor Relations with the negotiation of state-wide collective bargaining agreements that cover CTECS’ classified employees such as fiscal, health services, maintenance, protective services and clerical personnel.
The Office of Labor Relations provides direction and guidance on how to effectively manage relationships with the numerous labor organizations that represent the CTECS’ workforce. We partner with the Department of Administrative Services Human Resources and the district administration to ensure that personnel actions comply with the agency specific and statewide collective bargaining agreements. We actively participate in developing and enforcing workplace policies and procedures and support the agency’s ongoing compliance with the laws and regulations that govern the employment relationship. We assist the district leaders and labor unions with conflict resolution, grievance processing and the adjustment of other workplace disputes that are governed by collective bargaining. In the event that workplace disputes cannot be resolved informally, we represent the agency in labor arbitration and other administrative proceedings including matters pending before the Connecticut Commission of Human Rights and Opportunities, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and the Connecticut and United States Departments of Labor.
Our professional staff also provides guidance in other employee relations areas such as performance management, employee counseling and progressive discipline. We coordinate with the technical high schools and external compliance offices to ensure that there is a prompt investigation and response to incidents of serious workplace misconduct. We refer employees and administrators to appropriate internal and external resources (such as the Office of Affirmative Action, DAS Human Resources, etc.) to respond to workplace questions or concerns that are not appropriately addressed by the Office of Labor Relations.
