Jon Magna is a Partner at the CTM Legal Group. Jon joined the CTM Legal Group in 2014 and concentrates on labor law, employment law and employee benefits law.  Jon received his bachelor degree from Arizona State University and graduated cum laude from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago where he received his Juris Doctor.  

Jon began his career as a research specialist for an economic research and consulting firm. Jon then moved into the labor arena and has over a decade of experience with Chicago labor unions. Jon has served as a business agent for the Teamsters Union and simultaneously went to law school at night.  Jon has also served as a union trustee on three Taft-Hartley benefit funds.  

During Jon’s career he has served a wide variety of union members including drivers, warehouse employees, package car drivers, over the road drivers, parking lot attendants, soft drink industry employees, liquor, beer, wine and spirts employees, hotel employees, trade show employees, security officers, construction employees, studio mechanics, movie drivers, pharmacists, paratransit employees, blood service employees, railway employees,  tow truck drivers, garbage drivers, police officers, and various state, county and local public employees.

Jon has represented unions and their members in various situations including serving as counsel to executive boards, grievances and arbitrations, representation at the labor board, contract negotiations, contract compliance, as well as, individual legal matters such as employment discrimination.  Jon also serves as legal counsel to various multi-employer health and welfare, pension and legal and educational assistance funds in the Chicagoland area.  In this role Jon has guided funds with ERISA compliance, worked as collections counsel, drafted summery plan descriptions, plan documents and trust agreements. 

Jon believes in unions, their representatives and their funds providing the best possible service to their members. 

Jon utilizes a progressive strategy when negotiating union contracts.  In the past, negotiations have been secretive with the bulk of the members unaware of the discussions that happen during the negotiation meetings.  Jon uses a transparent process that keeps the members informed of progress during each negotiation session.  The strength of the contract comes from the unity and strength of the membership.  An informed membership allows members to understand the methodology of the final which generally leads to high contract passage rates.  Additionally, if a strike is necessary, the membership, generally, is unified and strong. 

In addition to his role as counsel to various labor organizations, Jon is a frequent lecturer at training seminars for members, stewards, business agents, organizers and union leaders.  Having worked a business agent, Jon is able to draw on his unique experience to provide union representatives with effective guidance to better serve the membership and the union. 

Finally, Jon has helped create legal and educational assistance funds from the ground up that allow participants to receive legal services paid for by the fund for everyday needs of working people.  These funds also provide much needed tuition reimbursement for participants, their spouses and dependents to receive higher education. 

Professional Affiliations:  

AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee

Chicago Bar Association

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Funds