Associate

Christopher Gétaz represents and counsels labor organizations in matters relating to administrative agencies, grievances and arbitrations, and collective bargaining. He further represents and counsels labor organizations, employee benefit funds, companies and private individuals in employment disputes and Human Resources related topics.

Christopher’s labor practice covers a broad range of subjects. He defends and prosecutes actions on behalf of unions and employee benefit funds before state and federal courts, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Public Employment Relations Board. Christopher regularly prepares for labor grievances and arbitrations concerning discipline, discharge and contract interpretation matters. He also counsels labor organizations regarding issues that arise during collective bargaining and negotiates on their behalf.

Christopher’s practice includes many facets of employment law, as well. He often advises and represents labor organizations, employee benefit funds and companies in defending discrimination claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New York State Division of Human Rights. Similarly, he conducts training seminars on risk management topics, such as sexual harassment and retaliation. He also counsels employees in disputes that arise in the workplace, such as performance improvement plans and severance agreements.

Outside of the office, Christopher enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and watching movies.

• Represented labor organization during National Labor Relations Board’s investigation of unfair labor practice charge, alleging violation of the union’s duty of fair representation and collusion with employer to restrain the member’s exercise of his rights.
• Assisted in defense of labor organization and training fund from complaint that alleged national origin and race discrimination before the New York State Division of Human Rights.
  
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• Assisted in defense of labor organization from charge that alleged age discrimination and retaliation before the New York State Division of Human Rights.
• Represented employee organization during impasse mediation held by the Public Employment Relations Board.
• Represented bargaining unit members during Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation of work-related injury.
• Negotiated favorable severance agreement on behalf of nonprofit company’s executive employee.
• Counseled private sector labor organization during collective bargaining negotiations.
• Drafted fact-finder brief regarding union’s proposal for pension benefit calculation methodology.
• Assisted in defense of public sector bargaining unit employee in discharge arbitration.
• Conducted sexual harassment training seminars for management and rank-and-file employees.

• Annual Labor Law Seminar, The Basics of and Recent Developments in Private Sector Bargaining Law, Blitman & King, March 2010.
  
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• Training Seminar, Sexual Harassment and Retaliation: Rights and Responsibilities, Blitman & King, December, 2009
• Employment Law Update, Labor Relations in Challenging Times presented by the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, NY Chapters of the Labor Employment Relations Association, October, 2009.
• Training Seminar, Sexual Harassment and Retaliation: Rights and Responsibilities, Blitman & King, October, 2009.

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section; New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section; District of Columbia Bar Association; Monroe County Bar Association; Onondaga County Bar Association; AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee; and the Labor and Employment Relations Association, Rochester, NY Chapter