[OSList] Open Space in Collective Bargaining

Harrison Owen hhowen at verizon.net
Thu Oct 27 12:12:57 PDT 2011


I am sure I am missing some of the nuances -- but at some level it seems to
me that Open Space is precisely "interest based bargaining." That after all
is what happens in the market place at the start, and on an ongoing basis as
people "vote with their feet" -- which is effectively multi-party bargaining
relative to the available time/space/interest of the folks (at the very
least).

I have a rather different take on the Union hesitance which may be more
about perceived loss of power than concern for the effectiveness of any
resulting agreement. To be sure there are situations where only a call to
arms will do (strike, hardnosed bargaining, etc) -- but typically I find
these are endgame scenarios of a zero sum game. Management AGAINST Union and
vice versa. Somebody wins and somebody looses. But this doesn't have to be,
and more often than not is a lose/lose situation. Nobody really wins because
at the end of the day, and even though wages increase or new benefits
achieved -- the atmosphere is poisoned (talk about a "happy, productive work
place?") and a set of work rules put in place that are so complex and
restrictive that, were they truly to be followed, no useful work could get
done. Sounds insane I know, but I have experienced dozens of places in such
dire straits.

Sanity breaks out when it is recognized by all that such bargaining (like
War) is a tool of last resort. Sometimes you have to do it, but the cost is
extreme, especially when there are more effective alternatives. And Open
Space is such an alternative.

I have totally lost track of the number of situations where, in highly
charged/conflicted situations, the simple act of opening space was more than
sufficient to focus all the energy of conflict in more productive
directions. I remember, for example, a sugar plant in Venezuela where the
hostility was such that Plant Manager and the Union Chief were found at
machete points. Not nice. We opened space for everybody some 500 folks. And
believe me they put it all on the table. Loudly! And if somebody was shy
about raising an issue because "management" would "get them" -- there always
seemed to be 3 or 4 other folks who felt no such constraints. For something
like 16 hours straight they went at it. And then a strange thing happened.
The closing circle happened when it was ready -- and began in a rich
silence. Needless to say we didn't pass a talking stick around all 500 --
but we really didn't have to. The Plant Manager stood up and walked over to
the Union chief and gave him a long hug. Everybody Cheered. People were
hungry and thirsty, and being South America the party started. I left a
little early, but somewhere around 2 in the morning I am told the last Salsa
played.

Did they solve all the issues? Of course not. But they had done something
much more important. The shattered bonds of community had started to
re-weave. They still had to write a contract, of course -- but that was just
details. Was it just one lucky break? Maybe, but I have seen it happen again
and again. Of course, a little Salsa helps!

Harrison



 
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
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USA

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-----Original Message-----
From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Bui Petersen
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 11:00 AM
To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Subject: [OSList] Open Space in Collective Bargaining

Hi enormously generous and thoughtful colleagues,

I am doing some research on what is popularly called "interest-based" 
bargaining (IBB). For those unfamiliar with the term, IBB is a process 
that is intended to be more collaborative than traditional bargaining. 
One common aspect of IBB, is the creation of various committees or teams 
consisting of both union and management that work out (creative if 
possible) solutions to the various issues being the negotiated.

I'm trying to find out if anyone on this list knows of negotiations that 
have involved OST or other self-organizing principles. One of the 
reasons I'm asking is that unions are often sceptical of IBB because 
they think that dividing individual members into various committees 
partially undermines their collective voice, which in essence is the 
core of union power. Thus before considering such an approach, they will 
likely want some assurance that it can work in their interest.

Hope there is someone with experience and insight. :)

Thanks,

Bui Petersen
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