An adjunct faculty member who teaches in the online labor and employment relations program through Penn State World Campus has been named as an appointee of a federal panel that resolves disputes between federal agencies and employee unions.
Jeanne Charles is expected to be appointed to the Federal Labor Relations Authority's Federal Service Impasses Panel, which helps resolve impasses when bargaining and mediation do not result in an agreement. The administration of President Joe Biden announced in August that he intends to appoint 10 people, including Charles, to the panel.
Charles teaches in the Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources and Employment Relations program, which is offered by the Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations online through Penn State World Campus.
Charles currently serves as a labor and employment arbitrator on various public and private sector panels, including for professional sports.
“I have spent more than 25 years working in federal sector labor law either as a lawyer or neutral. It is truly an honor to continue to serve industrial justice in this manner,” Charles said.
Charles has a multi-state Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice with offices in the Chicago and Fort Lauderdale areas. Her practice includes arbitration, mediation, and fact-finding in the areas of workplace disputes. She earned her juris doctorate degree from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago and maintains her law license in Illinois.
She is on the rosters of the American Arbitration Association, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and National Mediation Board.
As a special magistrate for the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) for several years, Charles has helped labor and management organizations resolve bargaining impasse disputes regarding issues such as pay, benefits, and safety.
Prior to becoming an arbitrator, Charles practiced as staff counsel for a federal sector labor union in Chicago and in private practice. She had 10 years of corporate experience prior to becoming an attorney and was certified in Total Quality Management and Problem-Solving.
Charles is a fellow with the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and has been inducted into the National Academy of Arbitrators (NAA), where she serves on its Board of Governors. She was instrumental in helping the labor-management community adapt to virtual hearings by serving as the chair of the NAA Videoconferencing Task Force over the last year.
Learn more about the degree on the Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources and Employment Relations website.