Articles by Michael Marra
Can They Say That? What Employers Can – and Can’t – Do About Employee Speech During Election Season
With election day nearing, it’s inevitable that political conversation may slip into workplace conversation. As an employer, nothing is trickier than figuring out how to navigate employee political activity, especially when it becomes an off-hours protest, heated workplace debate, or viral social media post.
Powers must be devolved out of Holyrood to supercharge Scots towns and cities
The story of my family changed with my grandmother, Margaret. Of the seven boys and girls who shared a small bedroom in Lochee, Dundee, she was the one chosen to go to college. The other six brothers and sisters would stay working in the heat and stench of the jute mills, six days a week, and when that week was done, they would take down an old flour tin and put in a share of their hard-earned wages to pay the cost of Margaret's keep and her education.
Poverty is not an inevitable fact of life in Scotland and we must work together to end it
It is my privilege to speak directly to readers of the Daily Record as the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party This paper has a proud history of standing up for just causes - from backing the creation of the Scottish Parliament to demanding action to end the drugs death crisis. Its values of fairness, social justice and the dignity of work are my values too. They are Labour values and they are Scottish values. And these values have never been more relevant or needed than they are today.
‘Michael Marra: Why I’m standing to lead Scottish Labour’
This is the first of our pitches from those standing to be the leader of Scottish Labour. LabourList has approached all declared candidates to give them the same opportunity to make their case. Labour is at our best when we give people hope that tomorrow can be better than today. Across Scotland, too many people have lost that sense of hope. Folk are struggling to enjoy the simple joys of life – a holiday once a year, a pint once a week.
I would 'unite and renew' Scottish Labour as leader
Writing for The Scotsman, Scottish Labour leadership contender Michael Marra says ‘we can once again become the party of hope'. In the early afternoon of the 8th of May I was standing in the Dundee International Sports Centre waiting for the result of the Dundee City West constituency. While my result wouldn't come until 4pm that day, my party and I already knew that the election was over. Indeed around 2pm that day, with only 7 seats having been declared, Scottish Labour conceded defeat.
What Employers Can – and Can’t – Do About Employee Speech in a Volatile Climate | JD Supra
As employee expression spills into every corner of the modern workplace, employers are trying to figure out the best way to respond to all sorts of activity. From off-hours protests to heated workplace debates and viral social media posts, the question for us isn’t just whether speech is free – but whether it’s job-protected. With laws, rights, and risks swirling around every conversation, T-shirt, post, and “like,” it’s time for a clear-eyed guide.
Politics, Protests, and Posts: What Employers Can (and Can’t) Do About Employee Speech in a Polarized Climate | JD Supra
As political tensions surge and employee expression spills into every corner of the modern workplace, employers are finding themselves caught in the crossfire. From off-hours protests to heated workplace debates and viral social media posts, the question for us isn’t just whether speech is free – but whether it’s job-protected. With laws, rights, and risks swirling around every conversation, T-shirt, post, and “like,” it’s time for a clear-eyed guide.
Are you a bad officer or a good officer in a bad department?
By Michael Marra In the high-stakes world of firefighting, leadership is not just about commanding orders; it’s about fostering a culture of safety, trust and excellence within the department. But what happens when the department itself is plagued by challenges? How does one discern whether they’re a bad officer in a good department or a good officer in a bad department? Let’s delve into this complex issue and explore strategies for navigating leadership in challenging environments.
The 2023 AAA Construction Conference
The 2023 AAA Construction Conference The 2023 American Arbitration Association® Construction Conference focuses on best practices for avoiding and managing disputes on complex construction projects from the planning stages through completion of the project.
High Risk, High Reward: Reflections on Joint Forcible Entry
MG Harrell’s characterization of what came to be known as Operation NORTHERN DELAY was not an overstatement. It was 12 March 2003 and a group of planners in Qatar had just two weeks to plan the largest mass airborne drop in contemporary history —15 USAF C-17As dropping approximately 1,000 Army and Air Force personnel with all of their equipment into northern Iraq. Some might claim that experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan have little relevance for our current challenges.
The reality is clear- only Labour can make devolution work in everyone’s interest – LabourList
Scotland needs Labour, Labour needs Scotland. And never has Scotland needed Labour more than now. Nothing anywhere is working as it should. Every single service is creaking or breaking. Education, health, social services, ferries. And in Scotland, they do not need to be. These are questions of priorities and of competence. It’s heartening for all of us to read about Labour’s lead in the polls for the next general election, but there’s no room for complacency- least of all in Scotland.
Scottish pupils have excelled despite SNP education policy not because of it
Around 138,000 secondary school learners opened texts, emails and envelopes this week to discover their SQA exam results. Every one of these senior phase pupils should be immensely proud of their achievements. They are a credit to themselves, their schools and indeed to Scotland. We do, rightly, say this every year but it is more relevant now than ever. All of these young people were sitting high-stakes exams in ‘normal’ conditions for the first time in their lives – no dry runs for them.
The 2022 AAA Construction Conference
The 2022 AAA Construction Conference Effectively Preventing, Managing, and Presenting Construction Disputes in the Age of the "New Normal" The 2022 American Arbitration Association® Construction Conference focuses on the growing complexities of construction projects, preventing disputes often inevitable in these projects, and creating dispute resolution strategies to mitigate risk and keep projects on track.
Training for war at the Army War College
During the first week of March, as the eyes of the world were on the valiant defenders of Ukraine, officers at the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania were fighting a war in Asia — admittedly, while keeping close watch on the war in Ukraine as well. Their mission: prevent the People’s Republic of China from gaining control of the South China Sea.
Opinion/Marra: Make teacher contract language pro student
Michael Marra, a 35-year veteran educator, teaches history and economics at Portsmouth High School. He is the author of "Confessions of a Public School Teacher," to be published in April. It’s safe to say we are at an important crossroad in our quest to improve public education. On that we can probably all agree. Of critical importance is how best to proceed from here. Few things in our society hold a greater moral imperative than doing what is best for our children’s education.
Sports watch: What’s to come in 2017-18 Redbird seasons
Men’s basketball Head coach Dan Muller’s squad is coming off a historic season in which he led the Redbirds to 28 wins, a National Invitational Tournament appearance, 17 Missouri Valley Conference victories and a co-regular season Missouri Valley Conference championship title. However, Muller is losing seniors Paris Lee, Deontae Hawkins and Tony Wills, along with junior MiKyle McIntosh due to graduation.
Podcast: Redbird Report talks new volleyball coach, Redbird baseball alums, Muller and football predictions
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Paris Lee eligible for fifth year at Wichita State, dyes hair tips yellow
In a shocking turn of events, Illinois State senior Paris Lee discovered he is eligible for a fifth season and announced his transfer to Wichita State Saturday morning. Along with the transfer to the Shockers, Lee has confirmed he will dye his hair tips yellow in support of his new university colors. “It really wasn’t even about winning there, but about these tips," Lee said. "You see how good yellow looks? I'm excited to get out there man. You thought this year was special with the red hair?
Fisher Phillips: Fisher Phillips Government Relations Blog
The “right-to-work” movement has been on a roll of late, as an increasing number of states (especially in the Midwest) have adopted laws putting such provisions on the books. Right-to-work laws generally make it unlawful to require a person to be or become a union member, or pay union dues, as a condition of initial or continued employment.
COVID-19 Leave Obligations For New York Employers: Understanding The Intersection Of State And Federal Law | JD Supra
Updated: May 25, 2018: JD Supra is a legal publishing service that connects experts and their content with broader audiences of professionals, journalists and associations.
Gig Economy Changes In New York Placed On Hold By COVID-19 Crisis | JD Supra
Updated: May 25, 2018: JD Supra is a legal publishing service that connects experts and their content with broader audiences of professionals, journalists and associations.
2020 AAA® Construction Conference: Moving Forward in a New Decade
2020 AAA® Construction Conference: Moving Forward in a New Decade The 2020 Conference will focus on the growing complexities of construction projects and trends going into the new decade. It will kick off with a session featuring General Counsel from leading construction firms discussing their expectations in the dispute resolution process and how they systematically manage disputes for their company.
My Turn: Michael Marra: Bold changes needed in teacher union contracts
By Michael Marra Tuesday Feb 11, 2020 at 5:45 PM Feb 11, 2020 at 5:45 PM The Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy’s report on the Providence Public School District could not possibly have come as a surprise to any civic, school or union leaders. Unfortunately, Providence is not alone. Let us concentrate on what we can change that will clearly benefit our students, teachers and the general public. It’s safe to say we all want the best teachers for every child.
New York Lawmakers Pass Game-Changing Reforms to State Discrimination Laws | JD Supra
Still grappling with the expansive sexual harassment reforms passed last year, New York businesses and employers will soon need to manage through yet another expansive suite of amendments that will continue the state’s ongoing implementation of stronger, and more burdensome, antiharassment and antidiscrimination laws. On the last day of its legislative session, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed sweeping reforms meant to overhaul the state’s antidiscrimination laws.
here's how we can start to fix it
A free society is dependent on the rule of law which in turn relies on equality of access to justice. The evidence received by this committee points to failings in the use of forensic science in the criminal justice system and these can be attributed to an absence of high-level leadership, a lack of funding and an insufficient level of research and development.
AAA Education Services - Login
Format: Classroom Location: JW Marriott Marquis Miami 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way Miami, FL 33131 Map this location Registration Status: OPEN Registration for this program closes on April 03, 2019 7:00 PM Registration Fee Price (USD) Before Mar 19, 2019 General $450.00 $395.00 Refund Policy: If submitting a check, only a completed form with full payment will be processed; one form per attendee. Please do not make any travel arrangements until you receive a confirmation email.
Web Exclusive - September 2018: The Top 13 Labor And Employment Law Stories | JD Supra
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State Appeals Court Expands Scope Of NYC’s Marital Status Discrimination Law | JD Supra
JD Supra is a legal publishing service that connects experts and their content with broader audiences of professionals, journalists and associations. This Privacy Policy describes how JD Supra, LLC ("JD Supra" or "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses and shares personal data collected from visitors to our website (located at www.jdsupra.com) (our "Website") who view only publicly-available content as well as subscribers to our services (such as our email digests or author tools)(our "Services").
My Turn: Michael Marra: Uninspired teachers hurt R.I. students
Colleen Kelly Mellor’s sadly accurate April 12 Commentary piece (“How teachers invite disrespect”) should be required reading for all those who defend tenure and seniority in teacher contracts.
Williams to end his playing career at Illinois State
In February, Illinois State men’s basketball sophomore Madison Williams set the college basketball world ablaze after a monster slam dunk versus Valparaiso.Williams announced he would no longer play college basketball due to chronic knee inflammation and pain.“On one hand I am really disappointed for Madison and on the other hand I am grateful that Madison will continue to be a part of the Illinois State family while staying on scholarship,” Head Coach Dan Muller said.
Women's tennis concludes 2017-18 season
As finals week quickly approaches, the Illinois State women’s tennis season has come to a close.The Redbirds finished with an overall record of 13-10 and a 4-1 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.In doubles play, the Redbirds were led by Veronika Golanova and Jelena Karla Vujicic. The duo went 16-5 overall record, finished 9-3 in dual play, 7-2 in tournament play and 4-1 in MVC play.
Redbird hoops set for Cayman Islands Classic Baskeball Tournament
Illinois State men’s basketball will play some of college basketball’s best next season, as Caymax Sports Ltd., in conjunction with Global Sports Management announced the Redbirds will help headline the Cayman Islands Classic Basketball Tournament. “We are excited to host the second year of this tournament in the Cayman Islands,” Moses Kirkconnell JP, the Honorable Deputy Premier and Minister for District Administration, Tourism and Transport said.
Redbirds stump Sycamores in weekend battle
For the first time since May 15, 2016, the Illinois State baseball team has won a Missouri Valley Conference series.The last series win in MVC play came versus former MVC foe Wichita State at Duffy Bass Field.That was until a 5-2 victory on Sunday at Indiana State sealed the series win for Illinois State, the first in Terre Haute since 2014. “I’m really proud of how we’ve played since the Sunday game against Dallas Baptist,” ISU head coach Bo Durkac said.
Jefferson transfer to Illinois State official
Illinois State men's basketball coach Dan Muller announced the signing of Lake Land College transfer Josh Jefferson on Wednesday."We are excited to add Josh to our team," Muller. "Josh is a dynamic scoring guard with a great feel for the game. He had a terrific sophomore season this year at Lake Land College under Coach Colvin and Coach Earp, and we believe he is just scratching the surface.
Three years later: plane crash memories 'still emotional'
Almost three years later, inside Illinois State head coach Dan Muller’s office you can find the memory of those seven lives lost in a plane crash on April 7, 2015.More specifically, assistant coach Torrey Ward.You will find photos of Muller and Ward just behind Muller’s desk, a ‘Redbird 7’ sticker on Muller’s laptop, bracelets that read ‘T-Ward’ on them and even one of Ward’s old red sneakers Paris Lee used to wear with the team’s signatures on them – all inside Muller’s office.
BU's Wardle receives contract extension through 2023
Illinois State fans better familiarize themselves with the face of rival Bradley men's basketball head coach Brian Wardle, if they haven't already.Wardle received a contract extension through the 2022-2023 season, adding five years to his original contract."Brian is a tireless worker and has done a tremendous job of creating a culture of success within the men's basketball program," Bradley Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Reynolds said.
Muller defends MVC and mid-majors among frustration with NCAA selection committee
Given the recent success of the Missouri Valley Conferences and mid-major Loyola-Chicago’s Sweet 16 run, one is only left to wonder why the NCAA selection committee continues to leave mid-majors out of the NCAA Tournament.Illinois State head coach Dan Muller knows the feeling.After being left out of the NCAA Tournament last season with a 28-7 record, a 17-1 conference record – resulting in a regular season conference crown and an RPI in the 30s – Muller knows the odds are stacked against the...
Marra: March Madness satisfying yet again
March.The time of year when America falls in love with a Cinderella story, where the underdog is constantly being cheered for and when David defeats Goliath.When family, friends and colleagues fill out countless brackets, claiming theirs to be perfection.
DeJong signing extension with Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong will sign a six-year contract extension with the club worth $26 million.The Illinois State alum is entering his second season with the major league team after finishing his rookie season second in Rookie of the Year voting. DeJong hit .285/.325/.532, while leading the Cardinals with 25 home runs in 108 games.St. Louis is currently in Jupiter, Florida, for spring training. The Cardinals will open the 2018 regular season March 29 in New York versus the Mets.
No. 3 Illinois State and No. 1 Loyola set for championship clash
ST. LOUIS -- For the third time in four seasons, Illinois State and head coach Dan Muller are in Sunday's championship game in St. Louis.This time, the Redbirds are hoping the old saying, 'the third time's the charm' holds true.ISU has lost both times in this game, dating back to 2015 where the Redbirds blew an 18-point first half lead to Northern Iowa and last season where Wichita State just proved to be too much to handle.
Illinois State's 'big-three' hold hope for NCAA Tournament next season
ST. LOUIS -- Milik Yarbrough buried his head inside his jersey and walked off the Scottrade Center floor as Loyola celebrated an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.Phil Fayne hugged the other third of Illinois State's 'big-three,' Keyshawn Evans, and just like that, another off-season begins for the Redbirds.The big-three have an opportunity to turn this loss into a learning experience for next season.
Marra: Third time not the charm for ISU
ST. LOUIS — For the third time in four seasons, a two and a half hour bus ride back to Normal feels like two and a half days for Illinois State.The “third time’s time the charm” saying proved not to be true for the Redbirds.A saying that needs a little magic, especially this time of year.
No. 3 Illinois State heading back to MVC championship game, will face No. 1 Loyola
ST. LOUIS -- Phil Fayne has referred to himself as Superman many times this weekend, but Superman's kryptonite has been free throws all season long.Fayne stepped to the free throw line with 1:59 left in regulation and missed two free throws with the Redbirds trailing 56-55.The junior split a pair of free throws with 1:14 remaining and tied the game 56-56, which was the tally heading to overtime.
Podcast: Redbird Report from St. Louis as ISU heads to championship Sunday
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Redbirds and Salukis set to meet in Arch Madness semifinals for second consecutive year
For the first time in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, all four semifinal teams will be from the state of Illinois.Only once prior to this have three of the four semifinal teams been from the state of Illinois.No.3 Illinois State takes on No. 2 Southern Illinois at 5 p.m., while No. 1 Loyola is set to face No. 5 Bradley at 2:30 p.m. For the second postseason in a row, the Redbirds and Salukis will play on Saturday in St. Louis, only this time SIU will be the higher...
Podcast: Redbird Report checks in from St. Louis and Arch Madness day one
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Arch Madness Day One quotables: Illinois State set for rematch with Indiana State
As Illinois State prepares to avenge a 30-point trouncing at the hands of Indiana State tomorrow, players and coaches from both sides spoke about the upcoming game and opponent.No. 3 Illinois State took the first meeting on New Year's Eve, while No. 6 Indiana State waltzed their way to victory in the second encounter.Saturday's game will have a trip to the Arch Madness semifinal game versus the winner of No. 2 Southern Illinois and No. 7 Missouri State/No. 10 Valparaiso on .
Title VII Evolution Continues: Another Appeals Court Finds Sexual Orientation Discrimination Actionable | JD Supra
Another federal court of appeals decided today that Title VII covers claims of sexual orientation discrimination, continuing the evolution of workplace discrimination law that has begun to sweep over the country in recent years.
Yarbrough wins MVC Newcomer of the Year award
Junior forward Milik Yarbrough has been named the Missouri Valley Conference's Newcomer of the Year, the league announced Tuesday.The accolade goes with Yarbrough's First Team All-MVC selection."I'm appreciative [and] honored," Yarbrough said. "I was grateful it ... it was a great feeling, it felt good.
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