Mark Richard first became involved with the labor movement in 1975 as the South Florida Boycott Organizing Director for Cesar Chavez' United Farm Workers Union (“UFW”). He was UFW coordinator for the grape and lettuce boycott in South Florida.
In 1980, Richard graduated the University Of Miami School Of Law. Since then Mr. Richard has handled multiple strategic and corporate campaigns as well as numerous NLRB, PERC and arbitration proceedings.
From 2003 to 2005 Richard was appointed as administrator by the American Federation of Teachers to coordinate the strategic recovery and restructure of the United Teachers of Dade (“UTD”). UTD represents over 30,000 educators serving the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the 4th largest school system in America. Richard was the chief negotiator for three rounds of bargaining with the school system and the lead strategist for the union’s contract campaign.
In 2009 he was appointed as an administrator for AFT healthcare local in Portland, Oregon which represents 3000 medical professionals employed at Kaiser Permanente.
Richard has also conducted strategic contract campaigns for many unions including TWU Local 556 (Southwest Airlines flight attendants), APFA (American Airlines flight attendants), IFPTE (United Airlines engineers), PFAA (Northwest flight attendants) and TWU Local 553 (Eastern Airlines flight attendants).
Mr. Richard's dedication to the law does not end at the courthouse steps. He is a professor of Paralegal Studies at a local college. He is also President of a union of college professors.
EDUCATION
University of Miami School of Law; J.D., 1980
Goddard College; M.A., 1976
Florida International University; B.A., 1974
BAR ADMISSION
Florida
COURT ADMISSIONS
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. District Court of the Southern District Trial Bar
U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Fifth Court
U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Court
Florida State Courts
MEMBERSHIPS
American Bar Association
Labor & Employment Section of the Florida Bar
Government Lawyer Section of the Florida Bar
Administrative Law Section of the Florida Bar
Lawyers Coordinating Committee, AFL-CIO