Power and Participation in Negotiations

How unions negotiate is a strategic choice. Union members seldom directly participate in the process of collective negotiations over issues that are crucial, urgent, and relevant to their own lives. This workshop will discuss how negotiations can be different—very different—from what has become the norm.

We will draw from Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Negotiation by Jane McAlevey and Abby Lawlor to stimulate a robust conversation about collective bargaining: how it is practiced, how it can be improved, and how the practice and process of negotiations relate to power, union governance, and democracy in the workplace and beyond. At a time when workers’ rights are under increasing threat from the federal government and large corporations, and when workers are fighting to win first contracts at Starbucks, Amazon, and elsewhere, Power and Participation in Negotiations will teach urgently-needed skills to expand union members’ collective negotiations practices to build unity, commitment, and power, and strengthen union democracy.

This four-session workshop will focus on the “why” and “how” of moving towards high-power, high-participation negotiations. It is designed for unions at all stages of contract negotiations, including workers organizing for first contracts and workers organizing for new successor agreements, whether for a second, or even a fortieth, contract. Through examining the book’s case studies, participants will learn how workers can use the collective bargaining process to achieve transformative contracts through deep organizing and member-driven strategy. The workshop will show how an organized membership and high-power, high-participation negotiations are key to an effective system of collective negotiating. By the end of the workshop, each group will produce a plan to open their collective negotiations practice using the skills they have learned.

Who, What, When, Where: The Essential Details

• Who: You and a group of at least nine other colleagues* you recruit and coordinate before and during the study session.
• When: Four Thursday sessions on May 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2025, from 5-7 pm Pacific / 8-10 pm Eastern on Zoom.
• Where: On Zoom
• What: The workshop will move through chapters of Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations, discussing core concepts and how each union can implement them. Participants will hear from union members featured in the book, have work time within their unions to make plans to move to high-power, high-participation negotiations, and have the opportunity to meet and learn from unionists from around the U.S.
• Course Fee: $200 for a group of 10 or more people. Groups are responsible for ensuring that each participant obtains a copy of Rules to Win By.
• Registration Deadline: Friday, April 18, 2025. Once accepted, each group’s coordinator will receive via email the course manual and logistical information for the program.

Organizing Your Team

Successful organizational change typically results from a team endeavor, not a solo effort. For this reason, only teams with at least 10 people are eligible to register for this workshop. Each team will need a coordinator to organize and facilitate the meetings for their group. Coordinators will attend a 30-minute orientation session prior to the workshop to review the sessions and best practices for using Zoom and facilitating discussions. Any coordinator who is not experienced with Zoom can stay longer in the orientation session to practice some key Zoom tools. A pro-level Zoom account is required for the coordinator; it will enable them to host a meeting for longer than the 40-minute limit of a basic Zoom account. Anyone is eligible to serve as a coordinator if they are committed and well organized, and can access a pro-level Zoom account.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Avila, eavilaa@berkeley.edu with “PPN 2025” in the subject line.