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Wakefern Food Corp. · 6 hours ago

Labor Relations Manager

Edison, NJ

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$135K/yr - $170K/yr

10+ years exp

Wakefern Food Corp. is seeking a Labor Relations Manager who will serve as the primary liaison between independent member companies and union locals to foster constructive relationships. The role involves managing labor contract administration, facilitating negotiations, and ensuring compliance with labor laws while providing analytical support and guidance to member companies.

Food and BeverageRetailRetail Technology

Hiring Manager

Rucha Shah

Responsibilities

Act as a liaison for labor relations with cooperative members and unions, addressing general inquiries

Build and maintain strong relationships with union representatives and internal stakeholders

Facilitate regular communication between member companies’ management and union representatives on day-to-day administration and interpretation of policies, practices, and contractual obligations

Support cooperative members in meetings with union officials, promoting constructive dialogue and problem-solving

Coordinate and participate in labor-management committees or joint initiatives to strengthen collaboration and assist in the resolution of workplace issues

Perform cost analysis on collective bargaining agreements to support contract negotiations

Research and compare labor contracts to identify trends and best practices

Assist and attend labor negotiations, providing data-driven insights and recommendations

Run data reports for member, union, and fund office requests

Create and execute ad hoc queries using internal HR systems to support labor relations activities

Develop financial models and presentations for leadership and negotiation teams in accordance with members’ guidelines

Interface with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate implementation of contract changes negotiated by the members

Maintain all documentation related to union contracts and labor agreements to facilitate members’ requests for support

Recommend steps to members to ensure compliance with applicable labor laws through required postings and notices

Liaise with members on all affiliated retail associate and labor relations matters to facilitate alignment with company policies and legal standards

Provide guidance to staff on labor and associate relations issues, including workplace conduct, investigations, and corrective actions

Serve as the primary liaison between the company and union locals, fostering collaboration and mutual support between the individual member companies and the union locals

Build and maintain constructive relationships with union representatives and business agents

On behalf of and acting at the direction of the individual member companies, serve as a spokesperson in collective bargaining negotiations, develop strategies, draft proposals, and analyze cost and policy implications

Support members’ Human Resources team members, by recommending responses to grievances and representing the members in arbitration proceedings or supporting legal counsel as needed

On behalf of the independent member companies, partner with their unions to manage day-to-day issues and ongoing contract negotiations and work with federal and state regulators on compliance and employer requirement standards and laws, including but not limited to, DOL, FLSA, ERISA, ADA HIPAA and the EEOC, etc

Recommend to independent member companies strategies for consistent application of corrective actions and compliance with labor laws, collective bargaining agreements, and internal policies

Recommend to independent member companies strategies for associate investigations and ensuring appropriate documentation and resolution

Advise leadership on the labor relations impact of strategic decisions and recommend actions to minimize disputes

Represent the company on Labor Relations and Government Relations Committees

Collaborate with District Teams, Store Management, and HR leadership to recommend steps to align labor strategies with business goals and operational needs

Perform other related duties as required to support the overall success of the Human Resources and Labor Relations functions

Qualification

Labor relations experienceContract administrationLabor law knowledgeNegotiation skillsData reportingFinancial analysisPeopleSoft/Dayforce CeridianAnalytical skillsCommunication skillsRelationship building