Michael Healey concentrates his practice representing labor unions and in civil liberties litigation. Specifically, he represents labor unions in litigation matters in courts, before administrative agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board and in matters concerning enforcement of union contracts. He represents individuals separated from employment, including negotiation of severance packages. The civil liberties work includes free speech litigation, representation of persons arrested in demonstrations, election protection work and representation of individuals and groups facing government intrusion/surveillance.
Michael graduated from Hobart College in 1970 and the Antioch School of Law in 1976. He is a member of the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, the Allegheny County Bar Association (Officer in the Labor and Employment Section), the American Civil Liberties Union (including the Legal Committee for Western Pennsylvania), and the National Lawyers Guild. He represents and has served on a number of non-profit Boards, including the Indiana University Labor Studies Program, UE Research and Education Fund, the Battle of Homestead Foundation, and the Labor Education Research Association.
He was sitting commissioner on the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, from 2001 through 2004. Previously, he served as a hearing officer for the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board. He is the recipient of an A.C.L.U award for civil liberties work and has been honored by the City of Pittsburgh for that work. He is also a 2007 recipient of the Thomas Merton Center’s New Person Award for peace and social justice work.
He is a frequent speaker on labor and employment law issues to Continuing Legal Education programs for lawyers; and to labor unions, employee groups, and university labor studies programs. Likewise, he frequently is a public speaker on civil liberties issues. He is often interviewed by T.V. radio, and print media on labor union and civil liberties issues.
Michael is the author of “Protecting the Right to Strike”, Chapter 3 of “Employee and Union Member Guide to Labor Law”, Clark Boardman and often contributes articles to books for lawyers’ CLE programs. He seeks to practice law from the premise that human rights and the dignity of work shall be regarded as more sacred than property rights.
