michael A. Tomko
ARBITRATION | MEDIATION
Embedded Files
"Throughout my professional career, I have dedicated myself to championing the principles of fairness, equality, and equity. My true calling emerges when I engage with parties in conflict, guide them toward mutually beneficial resolutions, and help them move beyond their dispute. This is not just my work; it is a fundamental part of who I am and the meaningful contribution I make."
ABOUT MIKE
Michael Tomko is an independent arbitrator and mediator specializing in resolving commercial, consumer, employment, and labor disputes. Mike is an active labor arbitration panelist for the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS), and as an arbitrator with the American Health Law Association (ALHA). He also conducts private mediation and arbitration hearings for parties seeking fair, efficient, and practical dispute resolution.
Before beginning his career in dispute resolution, Mike spent twenty-five years working for national and global manufacturing companies, primarily in the automotive sector. He began his career as an hourly production employee and advanced into executive leadership roles, including Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Human Resources.
Mike has more than fifteen years of executive leadership experience, with a focus on labor and employee relations, human resources, and manufacturing operations. His background includes substantial experience in collective bargaining, grievance investigation and administration, lean manufacturing, mediation, arbitration, and matters involving the EEOC, NLRB, and employment litigation.
This combination of hands-on manufacturing experience, executive leadership, and dispute resolution work gives Mike a practical and informed perspective when addressing grievance arbitration, employment disputes, and workplace conflict.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
ISSUES
Absenteeism, Bargaining Unit Work, Benefits (Bonus, Holidays, Insurance, Leave, Vacation), Civil Cases, Conduct, Contract interpretation/application, Demotion, Discipline, Discharge, Discrimination (age, disability, race, sex, religion, national origin), Drug/Alcohol Offenses, Harassment, Hiring Practices, Job Performance, Job Posting/Bidding, Landlord/Tenant, Layoffs/Bumping/Recall, Management Rights, Neutrality agreements & Card Check, Past Practices, Promotion, Safety/Health Conditions, Seniority, Sexual Harassment, Small Claims, Strikes, Wages (cost-of-living pay, holiday pay, incentive pay, job classification & rates, overtime pay, severance pay, vacation pay), Work Stoppages, Work Hours / Schedules, Work Assignment, Working Conditions, Work Orders, Violence or Threats.
INDUSTRIES
Aerospace, Automotive, Construction, Education, Electronics, Food Manufacturing, Food Service, Foundry, Furniture, General Manufacturing, Health Care, Machinery, Office Workers/Clerical, Police and Fire, Retail, Warehousing.
ARBITRATION PANELS
Current Panels
American Arbitration Association, panel of labor arbitrators (www.adr.org)
American Health Law Association, panel of arbitrators (www.ahla.com)
Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS), panel of labor arbitrators (www.FMCS.gov)
FINRA, public arbitrator (www.finra.org)
National Center for Dispute Settlement (NSDS), arbitrator (www.ncdsusa.org)
No Surprises Act (NSA), arbitrator (www.CMS.gov)
Former Panels
American Arbitration Association, panel of consumer arbitrators (www.adr.org)
International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), Employment Disputes Panel (www.cpradr.org)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Bar Association, Section for Labor and Employment Law, Affiliated Professional
American Bar Association, Section for Dispute Resolution, Affiliated Professional
American Bar Association, Section for Dispute Resolution, Fellow (Bar years 2021- 2022)
American Health Law Association
Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
State Bar of Michigan, Associate Member
ARBITRATOR TRAINING
Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
Arbitration Law Update, American Bar Association (ABA)
Arbitration Training Institute, American Bar Association (ABA)
Awarding Attorney Fees, Costs, and Post-Award Interest in Arbitrations, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
Basic Arbitrator, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Cyber Security, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
Final Status Conference in Arbitration, American Bar Association (ABA)
Health Care Arbitration, American Health Law Association (AHLA)
How to Make the Best-Informed Decision, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS)
Just Cause or Just Because, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS)
Labor Arbitrator I, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
Labor Arbitrator II, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
Labor Arbitrator Roundtable 2023, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
Labor Arbitration, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS)
Labor Arbitration Advocacy Case Preparation, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
Labor Law and Labor Arbitration, Labor Arbitration Institute
Process Essentials for AAA Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
MEDIATOR TRAINING
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Bankruptcy Basics for Mediators, American Bar Association (ABA)
Breaking Impasse, State Bar of Michigan ADR Section
Ethics and the Art of Settlement at Mediation, American Bar Association (ABA)
Evaluation Mediation: How and When, American Bar Association (ABA)
General Civil Mediator Training (SCAO), Oakland Mediation Center
Help clients by Combining "Facilitative" and "Evaluative" Mediation, American Bar Association (ABA)
Impartiality: Do you know your Biases, American Arbitration Association (AAA)
Legal Writing, American Bar Association (ABA)
Mediation Evaluation Techniques and Human Factors, American Bar Association (ABA)
Mediating High Conflict Disputes, High Conflict Institute (HCI)
Pet Law 101, American Bar Association (ABA)
The Neuroscience of Conflict, American Bar Association (ABA)
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Speaker & Panelist: "Trends and Technology in Dispute Resolution: A Global Perspective", Utatuzi Center ADR Week (2021)
EDUCATION
Harvard Business School, PLD (2008)
Michigan State University, Master Certificate in Human Resource Management (2017)
Google Sites
Report abuse