I am pleased to announce that Andrew Slobodien will be joining Staff Human Resources (SHR) as our next Director of Employee and Labor Relations effective June 1, 2023. He will report to me and have oversight of our employee and labor relations team.
Slobodien brings 29 years of experience as a labor attorney working in the public and private sectors. Before establishing a private law practice, he was lead negotiator and contract administrator for unions at the state of Illinois’ largest public university/hospital system - the University of Illinois, Chicago - leading the interface with faculty, residents, nurses, police, security and service worker unions. Andrew was the managing attorney for labor relations at the Chicago Public Schools, directing and coordinating the response for all labor litigation for the country’s third-largest school district. He also worked as a labor, employment and litigation partner in the private sector and a senior associate litigating labor and employee disputes in federal and state courts.
I extend appreciation to the search committee members for their work reviewing and interviewing the candidates.
I also thank the entire Labor and Employee Relations team for taking on additional responsibilities through this transition.
Please join me in welcoming Andrew Slobodien to UC Santa Cruz.
