David Rome is a founding partner of the firm, and for nearly 30 years, he has been primarily involved in representing labor unions.  He is counsel to several locals of the Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1459, and numerous municipal firefighter locals.  He has successfully represented unions and employees before the courts in many cases, a sample of which is provided below. He has represented many nurses and CNAs in disciplinary proceedings before state administrative agencies.

Major Cases

Town of Lakeville v. IAFF, Local 3188, Plymouth Sup. Ct. (2007) (confirming two awards granting work preference to permanent firefighters over the employer’s claim that the awards interfered with the fire chief’s power of assignment)

SEIU, Local 888 v. Boston School Committee, Suffolk Sup. Ct. (2006) (confirming an arbitrator’s award reinstating an employee terminated for alleged misconduct over the employer’s objection that such reinstatement violated public policy)

Maloney v. Civil Service Commission, Suffolk Sup. Ct. (2005) (overturning Commission decision that increased discipline of an employee beyond that imposed by the employer)

Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children v. National Labor Relations Board, 297 F.3d 41 (1st Cir. 2002) (upholding union’s right to organize the employer on a region-by-region basis)

COBRA v. Labor Relations Commission, 436 Mass. 197 (2002) (upholding a Commission decision that preserved the integrity of a union citywide bargaining unit)

Boston Medical Center v. SEIU, Local 285, 260 F.3d 16 (1st Cir. 2001) (confirming an arbitrator’s award and reversing a lower court ruling reinstating a registered nurse discharged for alleged patient-care errors)

Local 285, SEIU, v. Nonotuck Resource Associates, 64 F.3d 735 (1st Cir. 1995) (granting the union its attorneys’ fees for litigation to compel an employer to arbitrate a termination based on the employer’s procedural objections)

Independent Foodhandlers & Warehouse Employees Union v. Shaw’s Supermarkets, 506 F.Supp. 89 (W.D. Okla. 1984) (confirming an arbitrator’s award that rescinded a disciplinary suspension for violation of a company rule)

Education

• Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1978
• Harvard College cum laude, B.A., 1972

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, AFL-CIO Lawyers’ Coordinating Committee

Bar and Court Admissions

• State Bar of Massachusetts, since 1978
• Admitted to practice before U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court

Speaking Engagements

Regular lecturer at Union educational seminars

Other

When not lawyering, Mr. Rome is an avid bicyclist, runner, gardener, amateur musician and reader.

David B. Rome
Partner

617-367-7200, ext. 241
617-367-4820 (fax)
drome@prle.com

Practice Areas

Represents labor unions in both the public and private sectors in arbitration, before labor relations agencies, and in the courts

Handles numerous matters arising under federal and state wage laws

Represents health-care employees in administrative proceedings before licensing boards and reviewing agencies

Staff Assistant

Lindsey Silver
lsilver@prle.com