Calvin Cockrell
Florence
Summary
Dynamic Senior Labor Relations Leader with a proven track record of fostering positive labor-management partnerships, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and resolving complex grievances. Expertise in minimizing union disputes while enhancing compliance with federal and state labor regulations, ensuring alignment of labor strategies with business objectives. Skilled in collaborating with HR, Legal, and Operations leaders to cultivate a fair, engaged, and high-performing workforce that drives organizational success. Committed to leveraging extensive experience to create a harmonious workplace environment that supports employee satisfaction and business growth.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Manager, Labor Relations
DHL EXPRESS
09.2021 - Current
- Lead labor relations strategy for a workforce of 2,500+ employees, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
- Negotiated collective bargaining agreements with Local Teamsters, improving labor stability and operational continuity.
- Reduced union grievances by 70% through proactive engagement, education, and collaborative problem-solving.
- Partner with HR, Legal, and Operations to investigate grievances, conduct employee investigations, and resolve disputes internally.
- Led employee investigations and resolution processes to address policy violations, workplace conflicts, and disciplinary actions fairly and consistently.
- Designed and facilitated labor relations training programs for managers and supervisors to ensure legal compliance.
- Developed forecasting models with Finance to evaluate proposals and project bargaining outcomes.
- Recommended process improvements and successfully resolved operational challenges with minimal disruptions.
- Applied mediation and alternative dispute resolution to maintain positive labor-management relationships.
Human Resource Business Partner (HRBP)
WALMART
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Supported 18 Supercenters and 1,000+ associates, executing enterprise-wide HR strategies at the field level.
- Reduced hourly turnover by 14% YoY through targeted retention pilots and manager coaching.
- Enhanced time-to-fill for critical roles by 22%, collaborating with Talent Acquisition on recruitment strategies.
- Advised Store Leadership on associate engagement, talent planning, labor compliance, and staffing optimization.
- Conducted investigations into complex employee relations cases, ensuring outcomes aligned with legal and company policies.
- Co-led change management and training for Walmart’s revised performance management platform, MyPerformance.
Education
Bachelor - Business Communication
Eastern Illinois University
01.2005
Skills
- Labor Relations Strategy & Union Negotiations (Teamsters, CBAs)
- Conflict Resolution & Grievance Management
- Labor Law Compliance (NLRB, FMLA, FLSA, ADA)
- Workforce Planning & Talent Development
- Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management
- HR Policy Development & Organizational Alignment
- Data-Driven Decision-Making & KPI Optimization
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel: data analysis & reporting, Outlook: scheduling & communication)
- Experienced with Workday, Power BI, Walmart People Tools
- Strong presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder communication skills
- Cross-functional team coordination
- Data-driven decision making
- Cross-functional communication
Certification
- CLRP (Certified Labor Relation Professional) (Training) - (Jan. 2026)
- OSHA 30 Certified
Timeline
Senior Manager, Labor Relations
DHL EXPRESS
09.2021 - Current
Human Resource Business Partner (HRBP)
WALMART
01.2017 - 01.2021
Bachelor - Business Communication
Eastern Illinois University
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