Fall 2010
Educating Law Students on the Rights and Needs of Workers Joseph Lurie, President Mary Anne Moffa, Executive Director Matthew Epstein, PBF ’07 Mine Safety Advocacy – As Needed Today As In Decades Past oal mining is an otherworldly That fellowship led me to a clerkship staff, the prior connection through The thing, whether on the surface after law school with a Department of Peggy Browning Fund made it an easy C or underground. The mines Labor administrative law judge, working match for both sides. are strangely barren in parts and busy on coal mine and longshore workers’ Among my colleagues at work is in others; at times eerily quiet and compensation cases, lawsuits on behalf of another Peggy Browning Alumnus, then earth-shakingly loud. It can take immigrants who were wrongfully denied David Jaklevic, PBF ’08. Already an hour to travel from end to end of an we have settled cases that languished for underground coal mine the size of a major a year or more for lack of staff to deal city, or the mine can involve 36-inch with them. In addition, my colleagues ceilings and no more than a skeleton crew. and I will try cases on our own, a rare However, one thing remains constant: opportunity for young lawyers. Better it continues to be one of the most still, we have the opportunity to make dangerous jobs in the world. My a difference. Mining accidents are not grandfather was an underground coal inevitable; they can be prevented by miner in Western Pennsylvania at a proper planning and safe practices. much worse time, but the string of Thanks to my experience as a Peggy recent major accidents is a sad reminder Browning Fellow, I will be able to help. that there is much more to be done. Editor’s Note: Other PBF Alumni are The path to my current job started also involved in this cause. Steven Grubbs, in 2007, when I was a law student with Kwame Samuda, Rory Smith and Chris an interest in employment law looking Williamson all work at The Federal Mine for a summer job. Through The Peggy Matt in full miner gear preparing for a visit Safety and Health Review Commission. Browning Fund, I was able to intern at the to the Bailey Mine in Green County, PA - the Jenny Hayhurst is from a coal mining largest underground mine in the country. Philadelphia Regional Solicitor’s Office of family and was a Peggy Browning Fellow the U.S. Department of Labor, helping their pay, and whistleblower lawsuits. This at the United Mine Workers this summer. experienced lawyers on mine-safety cases, summer, when I was looking to move on Although she is still in school, she is looking along with OSHA, ERISA, and Fair from my clerkship and the Philadelphia forward to pursuing a career in mine safety Labor Standards Act matters. Solicitor’s Office was looking to hire more labor law when she graduates. Peggy Browning Alumni Pursue Justice for Workers Alumni Making Strides Since working as a Peggy Browning Commission. He is working in a newly to be part of the process that ensures Fellow at the International Brotherhood created satellite office in Pittsburgh, miners are protected and that a safe of Teamsters in the summer of 2009, PA. Steve told us, “I am from southern working environment is maintained.” Steven Grubbs has graduated from West Virginia where coal is king. I West Virginia University College of actually went to high school only Law and found employment as a law five miles away from the Upper Chris Williamson, PBF ’09 at clerk to administrative judges in the Big Branch mine explosion last NLRB’s Contempt Litigation & Federal Mine Safety and Health Review spring. Because of this I am very happy Compliance Branch, is now working for the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the independent “I am sure that having Peggy Browning Fellow on my resume adjudicatory body that hears cases helped me to get this job and would like to thank you for prosecuted by MSHA and appealed providing me with that opportunity.” - Steven Grubbs (continued on page 3) www.peggybrowningfund.org Students Inspired to Pursue Social Justice Another Successful Peggy Browning Conference
A beautiful fall weekend served as New this year, and well received, was the backdrop for this year’s National an opportunity for students to attend Law Students Workers’ Rights a Friday afternoon Congressional Staff Conference on October 15 & 16 at the Briefing on Capitol Hill. National Labor College in Silver Following Saturday’s keynote address, Spring, MD. Over 220 Peggy Browning students attended a series of interactive Fellows, mentors and law students workshops led by labor law practitioners, from across the country participated - law professors and activists in the public a significant increase over past interest and labor community. The years. students were brimming with enthusiasm about the conference and their feedback For Peggy Browning Fellows, the and suggestions will be incorporated The Conference Friday Night Panel Discussion followed a viewing of the filmThe Philosopher conference began with the Wrap-Up into the planning for next year. (To Workshop where Fellows and their Kings. Two of the four panelists included learn more about the conference workshops, Cyrus Mehri, PBF Advisory Board member mentors reported on their summer facilitators and content visit our website, and moderator Angelia Wade, Associate General experiences. www.peggybrowningfund.org) Counsel of the AFL-CIO. Fellows Learn at Work Thanks to the Following: This year, fifty-three Peggy Browning Fellows were placed in positions with unions, government agencies, worker centers and union-side law firms. Conference Sponsors In their own words, a few of the Fellows share their experiences:
Guardian Sponsor Liz Dedrick – Northeastern Jason Usher – University of University School of Law Maryland School of Law I spent this summer fully I really had no idea what to expect American Federation of Teachers immersed in the work of one of as a Peggy Browning Fellow with the most dynamic, effective and the International Brotherhood of member-centered labor union locals Teamsters in Washington, DC. in the country during a very tumul- Among other assignments, the most Fellow Sponsor tuous, but exciting time – UNITE enjoyable part of the summer was HERE! Local 2. Representing sitting in on negotiations with the bus LABORERS’ WallAmalgamated Street Associates is proudINTERNATIONAL to UNION OFsupport NORTH AMERICA hotel and hospitality workers in San driver division. Being able to see Transit Union Francisco, Local 2 has been with- first-hand the tactics and strategy The Amalgamated Transit Union On behalf of the 500,000 members of the out a contract with the major hotels Laborers’ International Union used during the negotiations proudly supports the Peggy Browning Fund’sThe Peggy Browning Fund of North America efforts to develop the next generation we salute the in the city since August of 2009. was remarkable – recognizing the of advocates for workers’ rights Peggy Browning Fund and congratulate them through its 12th Annual National on their As a result, I was able to witness skill and patience required to draft a Law Students Workers’ Rights Conference. 12th Annual National Law Students Congratulations To Workers’ Rights and participate in an increas- amalgamated transit union THE PEGGY BROWNING FUND national contract that’s agreeable to Conference. Lawrence J. Hanley, International President As You Celebrate The Robert H. Baker, International Executive Vice President 12TH Annual National Law Students Oscar Owens, International Secretary-Treasurer ingly aggressive contract cam- Workers Rights Conference both sides. It was also amazing to see For Supporting Champions of Social Justice, TERENCE M. O’SULLIVAN ARMAND E. SABITONI Economic Vitality and General President General Secretary-Treasurer Developing future leaders of the world paign that involved everything from … Finding the celebrated companies of tomorrow how finding a keyword within a case For your hard work, commitment and dedication We Salute You! collective bargaining to workplace From the StaffWE and 350,000 PROUDLYmembers of SUPPORTwww.wsalj.com from many years ago led my boss to 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East Union GeorgeTHE Gresham &PEGGY Maria Castaneda BROWNING FUND actions by members and strike actions. Advocate President SponsorSecretary-Treasurer revive a case that he thought was in the and My work spanned the gamut from The 12th Annual National Law Students trasher. This summer has reemphasized Workers’ Rights Conference researching a wide variety of my passion and commitment to the Jules Bernstein* * * legal issues and helping to resolve labor cause! and LindaBest Wishes Lipsett member grievances to marching on
to the picket line. (continued on page 3) WILMA B. LIEBMAN
2010 Peggy Browning Fellows Generations of Sheet Metal Workers and salute All Students Attending the Conference “I had two goals in mind this summer. First, I wanted to
The Peggy Browning Fund
˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ explore labor law and see what kinds of opportunities O'DONOGHUEIn its mission to& ensure that future generations of the nation’s talented law students gain greater insight into the need for economicPITTA and social & justice.GIBLIN LLP O'DONOGHUE LLP LABOR * EMPLOYMENT * EMPLOYEE BENEFITS We are proud to sponsor it offered. Second, I wanted to gain general legal Attorneys at Law
______The National LawPITTA Students Workers’ BISHOP Rights Conference DEL GIORNO. & GIBLIN LLC CONSULTING AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
experience. My Peggy Browning Fellowship allowed The Attorneys and Staff of 120 Broadway, 28th Floor SheetNew York, Metal New York Workers10271 O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue Telephone (212) 652-3890 me to achieve both goals.” Int’l.Facsimile Assoc. (212) 652-3891 - Chris Rendall-Jackson Are Proud to Support
The Peggy Browning Michael J. SullivanFund’s Joseph J. Nigro Harvard University Law School, United Steelworkers of America General President General Secretary-Treasurer Twelfth National Law Students Workers’ Rights Conference ______
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Constitution Place 325 Chestnut Street, Suite 515 Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 629-4970 Alumni Making Strides continued from page 1 by mine operators. While still in law Maria spoke at our event honoring Leo HERE Local 2 in San Francisco, is school, Chris was the original author of a Gerard & Hugh Beins in Washington, now working as a Program Analyst for Resolution that was adopted in the West DC in June. the U.S. Department of Housing and Virginia House of Delegates and the Urban Development in Chicago. Kathy West Virginia State Senate that created is also the 2nd vice-president and union Labor History Week in West Virginia. steward of AFGE Local 911. Justine Elliot, PBF ’10 at Community Art Traynor, PBF ’06 at the United Legal Services, won the Philadelphia Mine Workers of America, returned to Bar Association’s Justice Ruth UMWA as a Staff Attorney. Among Bader Ginsburg Pursuit of Justice his other duties, Art now mentors Legal Writing Competition. Justine’s new Peggy Browning Fellows paper, “Working Above the Law: Why there. He credits us with helping him a Legislative Solution to the Hoffman at every step in his career, and he is Plastic Compounds Decision is Long eager to share that same assistance with Overdue,” was published in the Fall 2010 more Students. issue of The Philadelphia Lawyer. Maria Roeper speaking of her Summer Fellow Maria Roeper, PBF ’09 at NELA, experience at the 2010 Lifetime Achievement who graduated from University of Award Reception in Washington, DC. READ MORE about our Maryland School of Law in December Summer Fellows at 2009, was hired this past spring by Kathy Szybist, who was among the the General Counsel’s office of the first Peggy Browning Fellows in 1998 www.peggybrowningfund.org International Association of Machinists. when she completed a fellowship at Fellows Learn at Work continued from page 2 Dennis Garcia – University of the and Collection Act. Being able to see Pacific McGeorge School of Law months of hard work by the clinic and My goal this summer was to come partner organizations come to fruition back with a sense of purpose and drive was extremely gratifying. to focus my studies for the next two years Emily O’Neill – American University of law school. The result was that I am Washington College School of Law committed to having a career in labor and As a former union organizer with employment law. aspirations to continue on in labor after law school, Change to Win, a The Working Hands Legal Clinic in federation of progressive unions, was Chicago offered me the ability to work with Walakewon Blegay sharing her insights at the an ideal placement for me. Surrounded Conference Friday night discussion. different projects, assist on various cases by some of the most talented people in and work directly and consistently with the movement, I was exposed to the clients. The culmination of my fellowship planning, strategizing and researching was that I assisted in coordinating a press phases of corporate campaigning. I feel YOU can make it advisory and conference for Illinois incredibly fortunate to have had such a Governor Quinn’s public signing of solid legal work experience in an area to possible for more Senate Bill 3568, an Anti-Wage Theft which I feel so committed. It gave me a students to become Bill amending the Illinois Wage Payment great deal of confidence going forward. workers’ rights advocates! Simply make a gift using The Peggy Browning Fund gratefully acknowledges the following annual Leadership Circle donors: the enclosed envelope or contact Rhonda Gelman CHAMPION BENEFACTOR Kelley, CFRE, Director Galfand Berger LLP Mehri & Skalet, PLLC Joseph Lurie Motley Rice, LLC of Development, at Milberg LLP Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 267-273-7994 Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Whatley Drake & Kallas LLC United Steelworkers of America (USW) $100,000 Grant Establishes USW Fellowship At The PBF Lifetime Achievement organizations that support Award Reception in Washington, DC on the organizing efforts of June 9, the Steelworkers Charitable and carwash workers who are Educational Organization announced fighting for better wages, the establishment of an annual PBF working conditions, and Fellowship in perpetuity with a grant of dignity and respect on the $100,000. The USW Fellowship is job. intended to encourage students to The USW Fellow will enter the labor movement. help serve as the link In 2011, the USW Fellow will between the campaign’s be working with the CLEAN Car attorneys, carwash workers, Wash Campaign. CLEAN stands for and union organizers At the Washington, DC Lifetime Achievement Awards Event in Community-Labor-Environmental and will communicate June (l to r): Rich Brean, General Counsel, USW; Honoree Leo W. Action Network, and is a diverse information about viol- Gerard, President USW; Dennis Walsh, PFB Board coalition of labor, immigrant rights, ations to their attorneys Secretary; Joseph Lurie, PBF President; Honoree Hugh J. Beins, community, religious, and student and enforcement agencies. Esq., Beins, Axelrod, PC; Patrick Szymanski, PBF Board member. Keynote: Labor Law Still Matters
The Conference’s Saturday Keynote However, Ms. Liebman sees a speaker, Wilma B. Liebman, Chairman light on the horizon, “To me, labor of the NLRB, explained some of law still matters because democracy the challenges she has faced during in the workplace is still basic to a her tenure there, noting that the democratic society. It matters because Employee Free Choice Act generated collective bargaining is still basic to a a huge controversy prompting a battle between business and labor. fair economy. It matters because the Landing as it did right in the middle issues that divide capital and labor of the economic crisis, it generated will always be with us. Labor law contrasting views of reality and history and policy should be a part of this Conference Keynote Speaker, Wilma B. making it hard to imagine there could conversation.” Liebman, Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board. ever be a compromise. Upcoming Events – Mark Your Calendars Watch our website for details. January 14 – Application Deadline for 2011 Peggy Browning Fund Fellowship Program. January 26 – PBF New York Lifetime Achievement Awards Reception at the United Federation of Teachers Honoring: Gary LaBarbera, President, Building Construction & Trades Council of Greater New York; Terry Meginniss, Partner at Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss, LLP and General Counsel at SEIU Local 32BJ; George Nicolau, Esq., Arbitrator and Mediator March 10 – PBF Philadelphia Lifetime Achievement Awards Reception at Penns Landing Caterers
The official registration and financial information of The Peggy Browning Fund may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. tel 267-273-7990 • www.peggybrowningfund.org • fax 267-273-7688