Some advice:On potential New Job

[cooz3]

I am currently negotiating a contract for a new position. The salary has been agreed to but the other terms and conditions have not been finalized. It looks however as if it will get done. They have requested that i start by August 27. The problems with that are many. First i am meeting with my Upper Management tom. morning to let them know an offer has been made but nothing is complete yet. Thus, it is not even an offcial notice. My position as an Attorney representing Union Employees throughout New England is extremely demanding and I am already scheduled through March of next year. In other words, the customary 2 weeks notice simply wont work. I have way to many cases to close up and court cases to recuse myself etc...So my game plan is to tell the prospective employer that I am obviously not giving any official notice until our Employment Contract" is signed and finalized. From that point I have to give my employer at least 3 preferably 4 weeks notice. Then I want to use a portion of the 6 weeks vacation I have on the books. I will then come on in late September. I personally think this is more than reasonable. The problem is that the incumbent is retiring August 31 and they want someone in there ASAP. Quite frankly they should not have dragged the process on for so long ( I Interviewed for the 1st time in April) and they would not have a problem. I honsetly think from a professional standpoint of not burning any bridges and for sanity sake of not going from one job directly into the next my September proposal is more than reasonable. Further, if there were important meetings or cases already scheduled for September i would be willing to come in and participate or litigate for those days sporadically. Any opinions welcome...

thanks
cooz

 

[SixFive]

sounds like a plan to me.

Do you lose your vacation with your old employer if you don't use it, or do you get compensated for it?

 

[fatdaddycool]

I am currently negotiating a contract for a new position. The salary has been agreed to but the other terms and conditions have not been finalized. It looks however as if it will get done. They have requested that i start by August 27. The problems with that are many. First i am meeting with my Upper Management tom. morning to let them know an offer has been made but nothing is complete yet. Thus, it is not even an offcial notice. My position as an Attorney representing Union Employees throughout New England is extremely demanding and I am already scheduled through March of next year. In other words, the customary 2 weeks notice simply wont work. I have way to many cases to close up and court cases to recuse myself etc...So my game plan is to tell the prospective employer that I am obviously not giving any official notice until our Employment Contract" is signed and finalized. From that point I have to give my employer at least 3 preferably 4 weeks notice. Then I want to use a portion of the 6 weeks vacation I have on the books. I will then come on in late September. I personally think this is more than reasonable. The problem is that the incumbent is retiring August 31 and they want someone in there ASAP. Quite frankly they should not have dragged the process on for so long ( I Interviewed for the 1st time in April) and they would not have a problem. I honsetly think from a professional standpoint of not burning any bridges and for sanity sake of not going from one job directly into the next my September proposal is more than reasonable. Further, if there were important meetings or cases already scheduled for September i would be willing to come in and participate or litigate for those days sporadically. Any opinions welcome...

thanks
cooz

Cooz,
What union do you represent? I think that they can put off any type of arbitration should the lead legal consult move on. They do it all the time where I am at.

 

[cooz3]

SixFive:

Thats negotiable. I am heading in there Monday and sitting down with the bosses. It has varied for different individuals. Will see..

fatdaddycool: Ya its not the upcoming arbitrations regarding contract language etc. Its the terminations and the open cases I have going on multiple days. Plus the court cases I am currently working on in both State and Federal court..and Labor Relations Cases and Civil Service ..you get the picture. The other things is we average around three cases a week. Its sort of like a Prosecutors office for Labor and Employment law.Great experience but you get burnt out after about 5 years or so..

I work for AFSCME Council 93, AFL-CIO

cooz

 

[fatdaddycool]

SixFive:

Thats negotiable. I am heading in there Monday and sitting down with the bosses. It has varied for different individuals. Will see..

fatdaddycool: Ya its not the upcoming arbitrations regarding contract language etc. Its the terminations and the open cases I have going on multiple days. Plus the court cases I am currently working on in both State and Federal court..and Labor Relations Cases and Civil Service ..you get the picture. The other things is we average around three cases a week. Its sort of like a Prosecutors office for Labor and Employment law.Great experience but you get burnt out after about 5 years or so..

I work for AFSCME Council 93, AFL-CIO

cooz

I have been an arbitrator for the Transport Workers Union for 17 years and currently Vice President for TWU Local 567 AFL-CIO so I know what you mean. With the current membership in the Air Transport Division of the TWU in excess of 20,000 it gets old in a hurry but I guess it is what it is. I don't have any dealings in Fed court though. I hope things work out for you. Keep up the fight.
FDC

 

[marine]

Speaking from a seasoned recruiter's perspective...
You are well within your bounds to ask for a longer time before you start with the new job.

From the sound of it, you are fairly high up on the food chain, and when you get up around those levels - 2 weeks notice goes out the window and it is more like 1 month because your new employer should KNOW that you cant just get up and walk away.
They dragged their feet on this... if they really want you.. they will wait and extra 3-4 weeks.

Your vacation time should be able to be sold back to you, but it's always nice to have a break between jobs instead of leaving one on a friday and starting at the new one on a monday. never fun.

If they balk at your request for a longer time, see if there is something that you might be able to work out with you being "work on call" for a month and just do a lighter load of 15-20 hours per week

 

[cooz3]

thanks Fattdaddy...my goal is to eventual arbitrate. Any advice on rounding out a Resume' to get started? I have 7 years Union side and now I will be going Emplyer side as an Assistant City Solic./Chief Labor Counsel...have to think that makes me about as well rounded in this field as possible. i have already argued before the Supreme Judicial Court in Ma. successfully numerous times as well as the Appeals Court etc. At 34 I have more experience than most Partners at the Large Firms..

Marine:

thanks, I appreciate teh Input and I am in total agreement with you. My thought was to tell them my current employer has requested that I remain on until the end of August. I then would like to use some of the 6 weeks vacation I have on the books in September to get a little break mentally etc. During this transition time I would be happy to sit in on contract negotiations and important meetings and cases that are already scheduled on my own time. I also would get all my Personnel paperwork and Pre-Emplyment physical done prior to the end of August. This would allow them to make an official announcement.I think that is completely reasonable . I have to think from your comment that would you would agree..?..

thanks again
cooz

 

[ripken8]

cooz, can't help you but wow, looks like you're doing pretty good for yourself. good luck and hope everything works out for you.

fdc, you do what??? pretty impressive. honest to god I thought you just lived on a beach somewhere...

 

[cooz3]

Ripken8

thanks, I worked hard to get to where I am and put up with a lot of crap with union cut throat politics. I kept my mouth shut and just did my job and did it well. Unions are one of the most hypocritical employers going as they treat a lot of thier employees like crap. I average about 150 cases per year there with low salary but it seems that work is about to pay off unfortunately its with Management but I'm sure I will make the adjustment just fine.

cooz