Public Sector Labor Conference - Boston Bar Association

About the Event

Saturday, May 2, 2026
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Boston Bar Association
16 Beacon Street, Boston

Join the BBA for the return of this intensive annual workshop for Public Sector Labor Relations professionals. This program will familiarize labor relations practitioners with current trends in collective bargaining and other issues affecting public employees. Panelists will cover significant labor law decisions of the SJC, priorities and updates from the Department of Labor Relations, and a discussion on trending labor law issues in regards to conflicts, retirement, and other employee benefits.

Tickets

Agenda

8:30AM – 9:00AM

8:30AM – 9:00AM 9:00AM – 9:05AM 9:05AM – 9:20AM 9:20AM – 10:15AM 10:15AM – 10:30AM 10:30AM – 11:20AM 11:20AM – 11:35AM 11:35AM – 12:25PM 12:25PM – 12:30PM

Agenda

8:30AM – 9:00AM

Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:00AM – 9:05AM

Welcome

9:05AM – 9:20AM

Significant Labor Law Decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court and the Appeals Court

Michael Loconto, Arbitrator, Loconto ADR

9:20AM – 10:15AM

Agency Update

John Hanson, Chairman, Joint Labor-Management Committee for Municipal Police and Fire
Lan Kantany, Chair of the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations
Philip Roberts, Director, Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations
Margaret Sullivan, Chief Hearing Officer, Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations
Peter Mimmo, Counsel, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

10:15AM – 10:30AM

Break

10:30AM – 11:20AM

Analyzing Scope-of-Bargaining Disputes: "Workable Clarity" or Still "Doomed to Failure"?

Labor and management advocates will discuss selected issues implicating Chapter 150E, Section 7(d)—the “conflicts” statute—and the analytical framework used by the courts and the CERB when attempting to harmonize the duty to bargain with other statutes.

Moderator: Marjorie Flacks Wittner, Former Chair, Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations, Commonwealth Employment Relations Board
Michael R. Keefe, Partner, Segal Roitman LLP
Nicholas J. Dominello, Valerio, Dominello & Hillman, LLC
John M. Becker, Attorney, Sandulli Grace, P.C.
Joseph W. Proctor, Associate, Murphy Hesse Toomey Lehane LLP

11:20AM – 11:35AM

Break

11:35AM – 12:25PM

Arbitrators Panel

Rebekah Smith, Arbitrator & Impartial Neutral, Seven Tree Solutions
Katie Rosen, Alternative Dispute Resolution, LLC
John Markuns, Arbitrator and Mediator
Kevin D. O’Leary, Investigator, Trainer and Consultant, Kevin ‘O Leary LLC
Richard Bodurtha, Richard Bodurtha Arbitration

12:25PM – 12:30PM

Closing

Thank you to our Steering Committee

Damien M. DiGiovanni Morgan Brown & Joy, LLP		Michael R. Keefe Segal Roitman LLP
Michael Loconto Loconto ADR	Michael J. Maccaro Murphy Hesse Toomey Lehane LLP	Jennifer N. Smith Sandulli Grace, P.C.