George E. Spears, Esq.
George E. Spears serves the Authority as Director of Labor Relations. In this role, Mr. Spears is responsible for overseeing all labor relations activities across the Authority. These activities including developing and implementing the Authority’s labor relation strategy, conducting collective bargaining with all five of the Authority’s Unions, and providing labor relations advice and counsel to senior leadership, operational units, managers, and employees.
Additionally, as Director, Mr. Spears oversees a team of Labor Relations professionals who are responsible for administering the Authority’s collective bargaining agreements, conducting employee counseling, managing the discipline and grievance process, representing the Authority before third party tribunals such as PERB, DC Superior Court, and during administrative proceedings.
Mr. Spears also oversees the Authority’s Compliance Programs which covers Workers’ Compensation, unemployment claims, leave administration, and drug and alcohol testing.
Mr. Spears also serves as the Authority’s EEO Officer and has oversight of the Authority’s affirmative action and equal employment opportunity programs.
Mr. Spears is also the principal management liaison to DC Water’s Board of Director’s Human Resource and Labor Relations subcommittee, keeping the Board apprised of major negotiating developments, policy initiatives, and other critical employment matters impacting the Authority’s unionized workforce.
Prior to joining DC Water, Mr. Spears served in a number of Labor Relations leadership roles in the private sector and government, including with Exelon, a large national utility company, healthcare, University of Chicago Medicine and Howard University Hospital. And in District government in the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining.
Mr. Spears received his Juris Doctorate from The George Washington University Law School and his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from The George Washington University.