Services

Bargaining Support:

Lead Negotiator

Whether it’s a first contract or a complex bargaining table, Stout Solidarity can serve as the lead negotiator to ensure strong, strategic representation during negotiations. This includes preparation, proposal strategy, caucus support, and representation at the table from start to contract ratification. This includes regular updates to membership as negotiations progress.

Second Chair & Support Roles

When your internal team leads the table, Stout Solidarity can serve as a supporting negotiator — providing tactical advice, drafting support, and real-time coordination to enhance your capacity and outcomes.

Transition Planning

If work has been started by internal staff or interim negotiators, Stout Solidarity can ensure a coordinated and seamless transition into or out of an assignment, minimizing disruption and maintaining clarity for both union members and employers.

Contract Enforcement:

Temporary Coverage

Long-term leaves or an expected loss of a staff member can leave unions scrambling to fill the gap. Stout Solidarity can assist during these times, allowing unions to maintain stability while having the breathing room to get through the moment.

Geographic Challenges

Unions often can have large geographic assignments that regular staff find challenging. Stout Solidarity can assist with filling any enforcement gaps due to these challenges, which maintains the “union presence” and allows regular staff to focus on pressing priorities, instead of stressing over travel arrangements.

Issue Focus

Competing priorities may mean that some priorities do not receive the necessary focus required. Whether it’s an important and complex grievance, a time-consuming labor management committee project, or a high-stakes issue campaign, overloaded staff may lack the time to commit to its success. Stout Solidarity can provide unions with temporary added capacity and bring focus to issues when it is needed most.

Training & Development:

Trainings

Designed to strengthen members’ understanding of contract terms, grievance processes, and bargaining dynamics, these trainings can be scoped to support specific campaigns or build broader capacity within your membership.

Stout Solidarity may also be able to help in designing and delivering custom training to fit the needs of membership.

Leader Development

While collaborating with union leadership and staff, Stout Solidarity can work with member leaders to develop their skills and confidence, making them invaluable resources in workplaces.

Coaching

Stout Solidarity can work with member leaders and staff as a coaching resource. Working one on one or in group settings, Stout Solidarity can help pull the fearless organizer, the steward extraordinaire, and/or the next labor ally elected-to-public-office out of those he works with.

General Support:

Through Stout Solidarity, Chris brings his nearly two decades of experience with unions to those he works with. Should you have a specific project or request not listed above, chances are Stout Solidarity will still be able to work with you to fill your need.