CHALLENGE:
More than 100 engineers at a nuclear plant voted for representation by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). After a year and a half of bargaining with little success, management elected to aggressively and proactively share company strategies with employees in an attempt to conclude negotations.

APPROACH:
Siegfried Dunlay worked with the company and bargaining team to develop a detailed plan to guide communication efforts. Deliverables included communication guidelines, a key message platform and strategies for each bargaining session. Detailed bulletins were distributed following each negotiation. Work focused on internal and external communication including news media.

RESULTS:
The communication strategy helped conclude a stalled negotiation and successful ratification of the first contract, meeting the best interests of all parties. The IBEW negotiator asked Siegfried Dunlay if they’d like to partner with the “brotherhood” in the future — a testament to the "fair" approach taken through the communications process.

“Without your skillful and 'real-time' crafting of messages following collective bargaining sessions, we may not have been able to successfully complete contract negotiations. Your assistance at the bargaining table was a primary component of our success. Thank you."
    —Director of Workforce Relations