November 15, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the appointment of Eugene Lumberg to the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.  Lumberg, of West Bloomfield, is an attorney in private practice.  He earned both his law degree and bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University.      

Mr. Lumberg is appointed to represent Republicans for a term expiring June 30, 2008.  He succeeds Harry Bishop whose term has expired. 

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission is charged with aiding management and labor in reaching amicable settlements of labor disputes by providing labor mediation services to employers and labor organizations in private industry and in the public sector.  It also determines appropriate bargaining units, provides elections for selection of bargaining representatives, certifies collective bargaining representatives, and administers laws prohibiting unfair labor practices by employers and labor organizations in the public sector.  In addition to providing fact-finding procedures in public employee disputes and conducting elections on employer last offers in the private sector, the commission administers binding arbitration procedures in police and fire department contract disputes.

This appointment is subject to Article V, Section 6 of the Michigan State Constitution of 1963.  The appointment stands confirmed unless disapproved by the Senate within 60 days.