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OLRCB director defends office operations, outlines training and negotiation process
Summary
E. Lindsey Maxwell, Director of OLRCB, described OLRCB’s structure (20 FTEs, 11 attorneys), negotiation and litigation units, and efforts such as manager training and site visits; he noted OLRCB cannot negotiate without mayoral authorization and cited arbitration scheduling constraints.
E. Lindsey Maxwell, director of the Office of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining, told the committee OLRCB represents the executive branch in bargaining and litigation and that the office’s work is cyclical and resource-constrained. "OLRCB is organized into three units: Negotiations and Contract Administration, Litigation, and Administrative Support," Maxwell said, adding that OLRCB had 20 full-time equivalents in FY25, including 11 attorneys.
Maxwell defended OLRCB’s practice of meeting with labor leaders and said the office increased labor-training offerings in FY25, delivering sessions to more than 200 management staff and hosting quarterly labor-liaison forums. On the long-standing teachers’ arbitration matter, Maxwell said the issue is part of active litigation and declined to discuss particulars in public but offered to provide information to the Chair offline. He also emphasized OLRCB lacks authority to begin negotiations without clearance from the Mayor and City Administrator and explained practical constraints—particularly arbitrator availability—can extend timelines for grievance arbitration.
