Bill Cole

Always an honour to speak with union leaders from around the world at Harvard’s Trade Union Program. Insightful conversations about local experiences with member engagement and strategies to build on. @cljeharvard.bsky.social #unionengagement.

Day one of three of an intensive collective bargaining course for leaders in first responder unions at the University of Ottawa.

Power development, goal setting, and shaping the bargaining environment. Be ambitious.

Reggie on the beach… oh baby.

National Day of Mourning today. I remember fondly several friends who, because of the work they did, died from occupational exposures. I think of them often - Charlie, Ken and Bobby. There are many others. Let’s push the boundaries on health and safety - for everyone.

Sunday mornings don’t get much better than this! Run Reggie Run…

Is an "Unsustainable" Workload Pushing Canada Post towards Privatization? – The Rover Montreal letter carriers say they've had to work extra hours for free to keep up with demand since returning from the lockout.

therover.ca/postal-worke... “It’s certainly not an unusual way for a government to dispose of a public asset; load it up with debt, make it look like it’s not viable…It’s called a failure strategy and it’s been used in Canada before.” @policyalternatives.ca @simonenoch.bsky.social

It’s a privilege to be part of the Harvard Trade Union Program each year. It was a real thrill to deliver my first session today in the original HLS lecture theatre built in 1884. Imagine the people who have been in this room. More this afternoon on leader-member engagement.

Well done James Cole. Second year starting the All Star game, second year shut out. Where would you rather be than at the rink. Junior hockey in Ottawa.

Another full week of collective bargaining but no long drive this time. Let’s hope flights are not canceled. First responder bargaining today has serious recruitment & retention factors creating competition for resources. #canlab

It’s a new year, therefore a new website (or at least new look). Check it out: particularly the featured newsletters on collective bargaining, member engagement & interest arb. Coming in 2025, more on power development. Best wishes for 2025. #canlab

www.colelabour.ca

Harvard Trade Union Program Addressing engagement issues, through building awareness of the leader-follower relationship.

Looking forward to my annual trip to teach at the Harvard Trade Union Program. My focus is on the relationship between union leaders & members: how can we build participation & engagement. Here’s a summary:

www.colelabour.ca/post/harvard...

This morning many left their families & went to work to keep us safe. I appreciate the police, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, doctors & so many others who put their communities before themselves. I hope each of your has a quiet day. Thank you.

A pleasant drive this afternoon to spend a week in collective bargaining. Public sector bargaining facing scarcity of resources so recruitment is highly competitive. Good afternoon for Springsteen live streaming.

My latest collective bargaining newsletter introduces power development for negotiators. My first post on this site. I write 3 newsletters: collective bargaining; union leader-member engagement; & interest arbitration. Hope you find them interesting.

www.colelabour.ca/collective-bargaining-nl

Wisconsin judge restores collective bargaining powers to public employees A Dane County judge ended Act 10's near-total ban on collective bargaining.

Big news out of Wisconsin for working folks. 🧀✊

My boy Reggie making the most of what remains of the unfrozen streams on his long walk. Didn’t phase him at all.

New Law of Work Blog Post:

"Can Canada Post Lay Off Strikers?: A Labour Law Exam Question & Answer"

lawofwork.ca/can-canada-p...

[FWIW, I've never heard of a company laying off strikers. But Canada Post's peculiar move does raise interesting legal issues for discussion!]

Long drive to Southern Ontario for a few days of collective bargaining. Recruitment and retention continue to challenge first responder sectors. #canlab. #bargaining.

Big night in Ottawa, front row for Jim Cuddy. His son Devin Cuddy joined him and was amazing.

Continuing to introduce myself to this new audience, the primary focus of my work is collective bargaining on behalf of labour unions. This ranges from education/training to being the voice at the table. Check out (and subscribe) to my quarterly newsletter at:

www.colelabour.ca/collective-b...

Member Engagement | Cole Labour Interested in union member engagement issues - check out the first COLE LABOUR newsletter on how to create greater commitment, participation and engagement within your union membership.

One of my interests is the relationship between union leaders & their memberships. I have had many conversations with leaders from around the world who express concerns about a growing distance between leaders & members. In response I started writing about it:

www.colelabour.ca/featured-art...

Let me make a good first impression on this new site. Here’s a five minute exposure of the night sky at my cottage.

Welcome, I'm starting over here after concluding that X is no longer appropriate. I'm looking forward to talking about the importance of labour unions in our society, about collective bargaining, and my graduate research on leader-member engagement for union. Join me, tell your friends. #canlab