Toolkit: Working with Labor: Best Practices for the Long Haul

Best Practices for the Long Haul

In the summer of 2001, the National Organizers Alliance convened a meeting of labor and community organizers to explore the nature of this complex relationship. Their discussions yielded the following recommendations for working together:

Build long-term strategic relationships based on mutual respect. Do not rely on old history, perceptions or assumptions. Forge trust, open and honest communication, and the ability to work through differences
Arrive at a shared vision and values, reflected in a common agenda
Agree to shared goals, developed collectively
Develop joint strategies and structures with all members of the coalition
Be open to learning from each other’s strengths and experiences. Complement each
others' approaches and tactics - borrow each other’s strengths. Learn stuff together
Make a mutual commitment of resources, staff and members - and treat those commitments seriously
Do what you say you’re going to do

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