I work at a non profit and we just won union recognition and are slowly moving towards first contract negotiations and I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING. Would love to chat with some folks about their experiences, especially if you've negotiated around contracts/grants/etc.
I'd talk to nurses if you can, they often strike and deal with the same issue. People die during nurses' strikes.
One thing they do is give a month's warning, so that the hospital can find scab labor, knowing that the scabs will be much more expensive to employ
That's a really fucked up decision to have to make and I think that's hugely why everyone is very against striking. Also because our strike fund is like 200 dollars a week per employee lol. But I saw elsewhere in this thread that other unions can help with that too which could ease the fear of my coworkers
I'm gonna be frank: organizing for a strike starts now or it doesn't happen. Do not count on the reps to do it. If you're going to make friends with deep pockets, it's on you and no-one else to reach out.
If you're going to have the "start saving" conversation, do it now.