TRIS CARPENTER

Thirty years of experience in organizing, representing, and negotiating for unions and working people.
 SUMMARY OF WORK EXPERIENCE

California Labor Strategies

President

January, 2019 to present



AFSCME Council 36
Los Angeles, CA

Interim Executive Director
2018
Organizing Director
2016 - 2018
Business Representative
2012 - 2016

IATSE Local 700
Motion Picture Editors Guild
Los Angeles, CA

National Organizing Director
2000 - 2011

AFSCME Council 4
New Britain, CT

Organizing Director 
1997 - 2000
Assistant to the Executive Director 1996 - 1997
Service Representative 
1994 - 1996
UAW Local 2322
Amherst, MA

Political Advocate
1992 - 1994

EDUCATION
  • Master of Science in Labor Studies, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 1994
  • Master of Arts in Philosophy, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 1994 
  • Bachelor of Arts, Syracuse University, 1989 
DETAILS OF WORK EXPERIENCE

California Labor Strategies

2019 to present

Assisting clients in all areas of labor relations, including:


  • Developing strategy for and negotiating union contracts and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).
  • Negotiating during interim bargaining ("meet & confer" sessions for both decisional and impact bargaining).
  • Participating in Joint Labor/Management meetings.
  • Filing grievances (disciplinary and contractual interpretation) and prosecuting them through arbitration.
  • Filing Unfair Labor Practice Charges and prosecuting them through hearings to decisions.
  • Conducting searches for clients in need of legal, public relations, and lobbying consultants.
  • Assisting clients with community relations and interfacing on their behalf with elected officials and their staff.
  • Researching employers (budgets/economics as well as leadership affiliations) for clients.
  • Conducting salary surveys of competitors of client employers prior to bargaining.
  • Assisting client members in securing medical accommodations (primarily telework) during global pandemic.
  • Creating and implementing long-term internal political strategy for clients affiliated with national unions.
  • Making presentations to members, either individually or via membership meetings, regarding efforts by clients to serve them.
  • Drafting/updating client bylaw documents.
  • Hosting membership meetings via Zoom.


During the pandemic, all services (including negotiations and hearings) were accomplished remotely via Zoom and other teleconference platforms. We can accommodate out-of-area clients immediate needs this way, at least until travel can safely resume.

AFSCME Council 36
2012 - 2018

Served as Interim Executive Director for Council 36 upon the retirement of former Executive Director of over 20 years. Piloted the organization through the Janus decision and began setting the groundwork for rebuilding the Council. Resigned to return to full-time organizing.

As Council 36’s Organizing Director, managed all organizing and affiliation efforts, including the successful efforts to organize LA County Public Defenders; City of Anaheim Managers and Professionals; LA County Sanitation District Managers, Professionals and Supervisors; and LA County Child Support Attorneys among others. Responsible for over 1,500 new AFSCME members in 2018 alone. Negotiated several first contracts as part of this work, along with a number of successor agreements.

As Business Representative, worked with several LA County affiliates, including the Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA), a union of LA County prosecutors that affiliated with AFSCME in 2011. Worked directly with elected leadership to set policy, pursue litigation, conduct contract negotiations and build strength through internal organizing.

Served as AFSCME Council 36’s lead to the Coalition of County Unions (CCU) for the 2013, 2015, and 2018 Fringe Benefit Negotiations, which cover 40,000+ County employees. Was one of five principal team members from the CCU to negotiate the 2013 restructuring of retiree health benefits, which shaved 20% off the unfunded liability for the County while preserving fully paid PPO-level benefits for future retirees. 

 Associated LA County positions include:

• Member, Horizons (457) Plan Administration Committee 2014 to 2018.  One of two members appointed by the CCU to provide policy direction for the Horizons deferred compensation plan, with assets of over 10 billion.
• Member, Employee Benefit Administration Committee (EBAC) 2014 to 2018 .  Member of the committee that sets benefit policy affecting over 100,000 LA County employees.
• Trustee, LA CCU Retiree Medical Trust 2014 to 2017 .  Founding Trustee to trust created to assist County employees affected by the Tier 2 retiree health plan.

IATSE Local 700, MOTION PICTURE EDITORS GUILD
2000 - 2011

Directed organizing activities for a national guild of artists and technicians, the largest local in the IATSE. Hired, trained, and supervised staff in three offices across the country. Ran organizing campaigns against some of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world, including Warner Brothers, Sony, Disney, Paramount, Liberty Media, Lucasfilm, DreamWorks SKG, HBO, Showtime, New York Times, Deluxe Laboratories, Technicolor, and Kodak. Directly involved in negotiating several first contracts, and often responsible for subsequent servicing as well. Interfaced directly with Board of Directors, member volunteers, other IATSE officials, and potential members. Guild membership increased more than 20% between 2000 and 2011, much of it through organizing. 

AFSCME Council 4
1994 -2000

As Council 4's Organizing Director (1997-2000), directed organizing activities for 34,000 member statewide district council. Supervised organizing staff and ran campaigns in both the public and private sector. Organized professional and non-professional employees, including medical school faculty, sheriffs, social workers, clerical employees, privatized corrections staff, librarians and road crews. Often served as press liaison for difficult issues facing the Council, such as the Connecticut Red Cross Strike of 1999.

As Assistant to the Executive Director (1996-1997), served as integral part of transition team during contentious changeover of Executive Directors. 

As Service Representative (1994-1996), served as main staff contact for approximately 2,000 professional and clerical state employees.

UAW Local 2322
1992 - 1994

Served as lobbyist and Political Action Committee Chairman for 2,300 member UAW local.
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS