A review of how to conduct a risk assessment in your grievance or ULP settlement negotiations.

Chris and Loyd discuss managing emotions in collective bargaining and share insights from Ethan Kross' Shift: Managing Your Emotions- So They Don't Manage You. References: Ethan Kross' Shift: Managing Your Emotions- So They Don't Manage You

Get to know Otto Klein, a partner and founder of Summit Law Group, and a giant in public sector labor relations. Guest co-host Jamie Siegel, a mediator and hearing examiner at PERC, also joins Matt and Otto as they discuss valuable insights, tips, and stories.

No might be the scariest word in negotiations where the goal is to reach an agreement where both sides can say yes. But could there be an upside to the use of No in bargaining? Join Chris and Matt as they talk about ways that a nuanced use of No can be a helpful tool in the negotiations process. References:Never Split the Difference, Chris VossStart With No, Jim CampThree Kinds of No, James Sebenius

The virtues of active listening have long been touted for its benefit in relationship building and understanding. But modern research has examined how active listening can lead to depolarization and stronger working environments, which we explore on this episode.References:Listening to Understand: The Role of High-Quality Listening on Speakers’ Attitude Depolarization During Disagreements (various authors).Communicating for Workplace Connection: A Longitudinal Study of the Outcomes of Listeni...

Learn how interest arbitrators decided on issues as wages in times of high CPIs, recruitment and retention in tight labor markets, drug testing in light of legalized cannabis, and scheduling challenges. What trends that might impact today's bargaining, particularly for those with interest arbitration available to them when they reach impasse. References:Interest Arbitration Report, American Bar Association Section of Labor & Employment Law, State and Local Government Bargaining and Employ...

Loyd interviews former PERC Executive Director Cathy Callahan References:North Thurston Educational FoundationIn a Landscape

Emily Whitney and Dario de la Rosa from PERC and Nicole Thibodeau from the Alaska Labor Relations Agency join us for a discussion of representation processes at PERC and ALRA and why they are important to labor negotiators. References:Washington State PERCAlaska Labor Relations Association

Chris and Loyd discuss the life and work of Daniel Kahneman who recently passed away. References:Daniel Kahneman, Who Plumbed the Psychology of Economics, NYT (nytimes.com)Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman | Goodreads

Mediator, author, and mental-health advocate Dan Berstein discusses various approaches and systems for ending discriminatory practices against individuals with mental health conditions. AVOIDANCE RESOURCESMental Health and Conflicts: A Handbook for EmpowermentVisit www.mhmediate.com/avoidance with password: "Avoid" to access a replay of the 2023 ACR-GNY conference program on "Overcoming Avoidance of Diversity Tools in Dispute Resolution", and a copy of the 2023 AALS WIP Conference paper ...

This episode examines the six principles of persuasion drawn from the book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, and considers how these principles apply to the world of collective bargaining.Reference: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini

Alice Phillips shares advice, stories, and tips that she’s learned over her decades long career as a union leader. Alice will be speaking at the NW LERA Conference on March 28, Register using the link below. NW LERA Conference Registration

Your co-hosts of The PERColator Podcast sit down for a book club discussion of Leonard Riskin's recent book, Managing Conflict Mindfully. References:Managing Conflict Mindfully, Leonard Riskin

After a brief hiatus, we are excited to be back with a new book club episode where Emily, Chris and Loyd share out some negotiations-related books they’ve read recently. References:Flourish, Martin E.P. SeligmanThink Again, Adam GrantManaging Conflict Mindfully, Leonard Riskin

Chris and Loyd talk about game theory and trust in negotiations. References:The Evolution of Cooperation- Robert AxelrodHuman Motivation and Social Cooperation, Ferh & Gintis

Get to know Marv Schurke who shares stories, tips, and advice from his experiences as PERC's first executive director, as a private arbitrator, at the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, and as a management representative in the private sector prior to being an impartial in the field.

Advocates' Day at the Association of Labor Relations Agencies annual conference takes place July 17 in Vancouver, B.C. In this episode, we talk about some agenda highlights that might be of interest to PERColator Podcast listeners (and Emily puts out a book club challenge!). References:ALRA Conference Registrationhttps://alra.org/registration/Advocates’ Day Agendahttps://alra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Advocates-Day-Full-Agenda-6.20.pdfBook, Railroaded…https://wwnorton.com/boo...

A March 2023 congressional hearing involving US Trade Representative Tai and Congressmen Murphy raised an important topic concerning the traits of an effective negotiator and whether a negotiator's "niceness" makes them less effective in bargaining.

A panel discussion on what last best and final offers are, their implications in the bargaining process, and practical considerations to think of when deciding whether or not to make a last best and final offer and how to respond to them.

What can negotiators learn from the stories of Star Wars, Chief Leschi, and groundbreaking Washington labor leader Addie Fletcher Booth? In this book club episode, Chris, Emily and Matt share interesting negotiations and labor relations books and resources. References:NW LERA Conference RegistrationDr. Quintard Taylor Jr.’s WebsiteBlackPast.orgCobbins-Modica, Q. (2023, February 22). Addie Fletcher Booth (1902-1996)Puget’s SoundBlindspot: Hidden Biases of Good PeopleProject ImplicitStar Wars a...