You could have a great contract campaign and powerful strike... and lose all that leverage because your contract language was poorly drafted before you even got to the bargaining table. We'll identify the words that create ambiguity and expensive arbitrations, and management's favorite wiggle words and hedge words, which all seem perfectly reasonable. Reasonable is a hedge word. Zipper clauses waive bargaining rights; no-strike clauses waive member rights; your arbitration language could waive member rights.
If the right to strike is our most powerful weapon, why do we give it away in exchange for a union contract? Can we bargain loopholes that allow us to strike while the contract is in effect? What strategies can we use to water down no-strike clauses so we can use our collective power more effectively? If you and your co-workers ever wished you didn’t have to wait until your contract expired to strike, this workshop is for you.
