Trish Dunn has been negotiating collective bargaining agreements for employers for more than 30 years. She focuses on renegotiating legacy union contracts to remove operational restrictions and burdensome economic terms. She also has significant experience in negotiating first union contracts for newly organized employers to preserve strong management rights and operational flexibility from the start. Trish represents employers in proceedings before the NLRB, in litigation under Section 301 of the LMRA, and in labor arbitrations.
Trish practiced labor law at Jones Day from 1983 to 1997, before becoming The Washington Post's vice president/labor for 10 years. She rejoined Jones Day in 2011. Representing employers in media, education, and other industries, Trish typically serves as the lead negotiator at the bargaining table and works with clients to develop bargaining strategies to preserve their flexibility to meet their business needs. She has extensive experience in negotiating sustainable wage provisions, discretionary merit pay programs, and complex benefits provisions, including insurance plan flexibility and multiemployer pension plan withdrawals. She also advises employers on contract compliance and other issues with labor implications, including business restructuring.
Trish was named one of the Top 20 Lawyers in Traditional Labor & Employment Law by Lawdragon in 2018 and 2019 and one of the "Nation's Most Powerful Employment Attorneys" by HR Executive. Recognized in Chambers USA in the Firm's and D.C. Office's #1 ranked Labor & Employment Department, clients say that she "is very knowledgeable, gets very good results, is responsive and gives excellent advice."
Trish is a member of the ABA (Labor and Employment Law Section) and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia.
Experience
Bloomberg BNA reaches new three-year agreement with the News Guild
Jones Day served as Bloomberg BNA's lead negotiator in collective bargaining negotiations with the News Guild, which represents editorial employees.
Slate Magazine's editorial staff ratifies first collective bargaining agreement
Jones Day served as lead negotiator for Slate Magazine in negotiations for a first collective bargaining agreement with the Writers Guild of America - East.
Chicago Public Media negotiates new three-year agreement with SAG-AFTRA
Jones Day represented Chicago Public Media (CPM) in its renewal negotiations with SAG-AFTRA that resulted in a new three-year agreement, covering the journalists at CPM.
EF negotiates first labor contract with News Guild
Jones Day negotiated EF International Language Schools, Inc.’s ("EF") first labor contract with the News Guild covering its English teachers in Boston.
Foreign Policy negotiates first labor contract with News Guild
Jones Day negotiated Foreign Policy’s ("FP") first labor contract with the News Guild, reaching an agreement that covers FP’s editorial staff.
NPR negotiates new agreement with SAG-AFTRA
Jones Day served as chief negotiator for National Public Radio, Inc. (NPR) in its contract renewal negotiations with SAG-AFTRA.
Kaplan negotiates new agreement with New York News Guild
Jones Day served as chief negotiator for Kaplan International in its contract renewal negotiations with the New York News Guild.
NPR seeks advice on First Amendment, corporate, and labor matters
Jones Day is providing ongoing advice to National Public Radio, Inc. (NPR) in connection with First Amendment, labor and employment, intellectual property, and general corporate matters.
Bloomberg BNA negotiates new agreement with Washington-Baltimore News Guild
Jones Day negotiated a new three-year agreement for Bloomberg BNA with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild that eliminated legacy contract provisions and replaced them with strong management rights and operational flexibility provisions.
Chicago Public Media negotiates contract with SAG-AFTRA covering engineering and technical production employees
Jones Day negotiated a first contract for Chicago Public Media, Inc. ("CPM") with SAG-AFTRA covering CPM's engineering and technical production unit.
Chicago Public Media negotiates first contract with SAG-AFTRA covering content creation professionals
Jones Day negotiated Chicago Public Media, Inc.'s ("CPM") first contract with the SAG-AFTRA union covering its content creation professionals.
The Washington Post successfully negotiates collective bargaining agreement
Jones Day represented The Washington Post in successful collective bargaining negotiations with the Washington Baltimore Newspaper Guild, securing the union's agreement to freeze the defined benefit pension plan, ending all future accruals for Guild-covered employees, and to freeze of all retiree medical plans.
Verizon successfully resolves lawsuit seeking enforcement of employee's request to revoke dues checkoff during contract hiatus period
Jones Day represented Verizon Communications, Inc. in a successful resolution of a lawsuit seeking enforcement of employees' request to revoke dues checkoff during contract hiatus period.
The Washington Post negotiates contracts with Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, IAM, and IBEW, among others
Jones Day represented The Washington Post in contract negotiations with various unions, including the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, IAM, IBEW, and IBT/GCIU.
The Washington Post negotiates right to withdraw and implements withdrawals from multi-employer pension plans
Jones Day represented The Washington Post in connection with negotiating rights to withdraw and implementing withdrawals from multi-employer pension plans, including CWA-ITU Negotiated Pension Plan, IUOE Central Pension Fund, and IAM National Pension Fund.
The Washington Post obtains dismissal of refusal to bargain charge
Jones Day obtained dismissal of unfair labor practice charges against The Washington Post filed by the CWA/Washington Mailers Union, and found that The Post did not make unlawful unilateral changes to long-standing work practices during contract hiatus and after bargaining impasse.
Speaking Engagements
- May 2019"Developments at the National Labor Relations Board," HR Policy Association: Spring Labor and Employment Conference
- Fall 2018"Developments at the National Labor Relations Board," HR Policy Association: Fall Labor and Employment Conference
- May 1, 2018Jones Day's Media Labor & Employment Law Roundtable
- November 17, 20162016 Health Care Labor & Employment Symposium - Post Election Conference: What's Next?
- May 2016Recent NLRA Developments, National Employment Law Institute (NELI)
- May 14-15, 20152015 Health Care Labor & Employment Symposium
- May 14, 2015Recent NLRA Developments, National Employment Law Institute (NELI)
- January 15, 2015Another Round of the Obama Board: Controversial Decisions by a Closely Divided NLRB
- November 21, 2013What's the Deal? The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Labor Contract Negotiations
- April 9, 20132013 Government Contractor Labor & Employment Discussion Group
- December 13, 2012What to Expect From the NLRB During President Obama's Second Term: Impact on Both Union and Non-Union Workplaces
- November 15, 2012Recent NLRA Developments, National Employment Law Institute (NELI)
- June 7 - 8, 2012Jones Day 2012 Railway Labor Act Symposium
- May 18, 2012Recent NLRA Developments, National Employment Law Institute (NELI)
- March 2012Maintaining A Peaceful and Tranquil Environment: Promulgating and Enforcing lawful Policies in a Changing Regulatory Environment, 2012 Health Care Labor & Employment Symposium
- April 13, 2011Executive Roundtable Series - Labor and Employment: What Should Employers Expect in 2011?
- The George Washington University (J.D. with honors 1983); University of North Carolina (B.A. with honors 1980; Phi Beta Kappa)
- District of Columbia
Lawdragon, 2018 and 2019 Top 20 Lawyers in Traditional Labor & Employment Law
Chambers USA, 2018 and 2019, Notable Practitioner in Labor & Employment where she is described by clients as "fabulous at negotiations" and "definitely client-focused"
HR Executive, 2018 and 2019 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys
Legal 500 US, 2017 and 2019 Next Generation Lawyer, Labor-Management Relations
Fellow, American Bar Foundation