| Mediation Work Complementary to Midsize and Smaller Firms
If you've called in an attorney to be a mediator or a neutral for a case recently, there's a good chance the attorney you found works at a midsize or small firm. Though there are many notable attorneys from Pennsylvania's largest firms working as mediators, those in the industry who spoke to The Legal Intelligencer generally noted that the bulk of attorneys doing mediation work were at small or midsize firms. An informal survey conducted by The Legal of the American Arbitration Association's listing of certified neutrals in Pennsylvania seems to confirm that view. If AAA's listing is taken literally, it suggests that the majority of mediators do come from midsize and small firms, with significant exceptions of course. "It is the case that most mediators come from smaller and midsized firms," said Kevin Casey, co-chairman of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young's alternative dispute resolution (ADR) group.
Rialto teachers, school district to enter last stage before strike ...
The Rialto Unified School District and its teachers union are expected to move into the final phase of negotiations before educators could call a strike. A state mediator told bargaining representatives on Monday that he would certify negotiating parties to fact finding, during which a union, district and neutral representative would meet to recommend a solution, said Bill Hedrick, president of the educators union. Rialto Unified's offer before mediation was a 4.5 percent total compensation increase, including a 3.5 percent pay raise. In mediation, the district upped its offer to a 5.8 percent package that included a 4.3 percent pay raise, said Joseph Davis, the district's deputy superintendent for business. Hedrick said the upgrade was not enough. Teachers want a deal comparable to those in surrounding districts where educators are getting pay raises of at least 5 percent, he said.
Mohawks derail train service
Native protesters underscored their discontent with the provincial and federal governments yesterday when they barricaded the most heavily travelled rail corridor in Canada.
The blockade of the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal rail line stopped all trains coming and leaving Kingston.
Shortly after midnight yesterday, Mohawk protesters parked a number of vehicles over the CN Rail crossing at Deseronto Road, bringing all morning Via Rail and CN Rail traffic to a halt. The blockade came on the one-year anniversary of the land-claim protest in Caledonia.
The entire corridor has been shut to passenger and freight trains, said CN spokesman Mark Hallman. Buses were used to ferry thousands of stranded passengers.
Despite being served yesterday with an injunction that called for the protesters to stop the illegal blockade, protester spokesman Shawn Brant said the blockade would continue until just after midnight tonight.
Peers mediate and take the pressure off teachers
TEENAGERS are being trained as mediators to sort out playground bust-ups between their peers, in one of the first projects of its kind in Moray. A group of 19 pupils at Keith Grammar School have been appointed peer mediators and will be helping pupils to resolve minor disagreements. .
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