Conflict Resolution
Overview
My union work involves me in disputes with management and communities regarding change.
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As a result, I’ve built coalitions to support our views by demonstrating how proposed changes would directly affect individuals and communities.
During the recession of 2010, there was a push to close libraries. This would have resulted in reducing access to resources in under-served areas, and putting people out of work.
Successfully blocking those actions led to an invitation to be a panelist at the American Library Association Conference.
This work pushed me to developing an interactive training so others can advocate for themselves and their communities.
"Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn."
– Benjamin Franklin
Importance
Prior to 2010, the union hadn’t engaged with community partners much beyond the daily operational work; therefore, many community members viewed the unions as a barrier to progress. This was based on information shared by management including: the unions were the reason the library couldn’t implement certain programs or change hours.
As a result, while many community members valued their local library employees, they viewed the union as organization and not the people who helped them.
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With the financial crisis of 2010, the library trustees issued a plan to close multiple neighborhood branches. Knowing library management was going to present their plan at a Trustees meeting, which are subject to open meeting laws, we sprang into action.
We coordinated with a local social justice group to connect us with community advocates. We reached out to our local Friends of the Library groups.
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Achievements
We were able to build the Save Our Libraries coalition and unite union and community members.
Coalition members came to meetings, made phone calls to their elected officials at the state and local levels, showed up at rallies, sent editorials, and met with elected officials.
In the end, we saved all our libraries and almost all our jobs. Within two years, all employees were hired back and new positions were created.
Today we are renovating older buildings and building new ones.
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The communication between the union and the community groups continues today.
Strengths
Conflict Resolution: Identifies underlying causes of disputes and proposes collaborative solutions
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Communicator: Facile with technology, keeps current with emerging technologies
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Leadership and Vision: Respond to societal and institutional charge
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Systems Thinker: Demonstrates strategic awareness. Looks for patterns and makes connections. Sees how parts relate to the whole
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Creative Problem Solver: Situational awareness and leadership in identifying and defining challenges. Thinks creatively to generate ideas and be open to alternatives
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Advocacy: Actions to influence decisions to support change for a cause
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Culturally Responsive: Capacity to serve as agent for social justice
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Insights
Skills
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Dispute Resolution
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Problem Solving
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Leadership and Vision
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Critical Reasoning
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Communication
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Curriculum Development
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Advocacy
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Project Management
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Time Management
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Experiential Design
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Panopto Video
The one-on-one meetings allowed me to explain how the union works and why we fought for certain things. It opened the door for them to reach out directly to me and closed the door for management to blindly blame things on the union.
It empowered employees to speak up and tell their personal stories and the impact the proposed changes would have.
These actions showed our community members and our employees what can be accomplished if they are empowered and given the tools to be successful.
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When the opportunity arose to develop an open source training, this was the first thing that came to mind.
I see this as a way to pay it forward so that others may successfully advocate for themselves and others.