Bill Cole
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bcolelabour.bsky.social
Bill Cole
@bcolelabour.bsky.social
Principal at Cole Labour. Senior Research Associate at Harvard Center for Labor & a Just Economy & Harvard's Trade Union Program. Co-author of The Art of Collective Bargaining.

@cljeharvard.bsky.social

www.colelabour.ca

November 11, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Day one of three of an intensive collective bargaining course for leaders in first responder unions at the University of Ottawa.

Power development, goal setting, and shaping the bargaining environment. Be ambitious.
September 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Reggie on the beach… oh baby.
July 4, 2025 at 11:46 PM
National Day of Mourning today. I remember fondly several friends who, because of the work they did, died from occupational exposures. I think of them often - Charlie, Ken and Bobby. There are many others. Let’s push the boundaries on health and safety - for everyone.
April 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Sunday mornings don’t get much better than this! Run Reggie Run…
April 6, 2025 at 2:18 PM
March 9, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Bill Cole
therover.ca/postal-worke... “It’s certainly not an unusual way for a government to dispose of a public asset; load it up with debt, make it look like it’s not viable…It’s called a failure strategy and it’s been used in Canada before.” @policyalternatives.ca @simonenoch.bsky.social
Is an "Unsustainable" Workload Pushing Canada Post towards Privatization? – The Rover
Montreal letter carriers say they've had to work extra hours for free to keep up with demand since returning from the lockout.
therover.ca
March 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
February 3, 2025 at 12:15 AM
It’s a privilege to be part of the Harvard Trade Union Program each year. It was a real thrill to deliver my first session today in the original HLS lecture theatre built in 1884. Imagine the people who have been in this room. More this afternoon on leader-member engagement.
January 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Well done James Cole. Second year starting the All Star game, second year shut out. Where would you rather be than at the rink. Junior hockey in Ottawa.
January 14, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Another full week of collective bargaining but no long drive this time. Let’s hope flights are not canceled. First responder bargaining today has serious recruitment & retention factors creating competition for resources. #canlab
January 6, 2025 at 3:01 PM
It’s a new year, therefore a new website (or at least new look). Check it out: particularly the featured newsletters on collective bargaining, member engagement & interest arb. Coming in 2025, more on power development. Best wishes for 2025. #canlab

www.colelabour.ca
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www.colelabour.ca
January 2, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Looking forward to my annual trip to teach at the Harvard Trade Union Program. My focus is on the relationship between union leaders & members: how can we build participation & engagement. Here’s a summary:

www.colelabour.ca/post/harvard...
Harvard Trade Union Program
Addressing engagement issues, through building awareness of the leader-follower relationship.
www.colelabour.ca
December 30, 2024 at 6:15 PM
This morning many left their families & went to work to keep us safe. I appreciate the police, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, doctors & so many others who put their communities before themselves. I hope each of your has a quiet day. Thank you.
December 25, 2024 at 2:15 PM
December 24, 2024 at 2:12 AM
A pleasant drive this afternoon to spend a week in collective bargaining. Public sector bargaining facing scarcity of resources so recruitment is highly competitive. Good afternoon for Springsteen live streaming.
December 15, 2024 at 6:49 PM
My latest collective bargaining newsletter introduces power development for negotiators. My first post on this site. I write 3 newsletters: collective bargaining; union leader-member engagement; & interest arbitration. Hope you find them interesting.

www.colelabour.ca/collective-bargaining-nl
Collective Bargaining - NL | Cole Labour
www.colelabour.ca
December 13, 2024 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Bill Cole
Big news out of Wisconsin for working folks. 🧀✊
Wisconsin judge restores collective bargaining powers to public employees
A Dane County judge ended Act 10's near-total ban on collective bargaining.
www.wbay.com
December 2, 2024 at 8:46 PM
My boy Reggie making the most of what remains of the unfrozen streams on his long walk. Didn’t phase him at all.
November 29, 2024 at 10:39 PM
Reposted by Bill Cole
New Law of Work Blog Post:

"Can Canada Post Lay Off Strikers?: A Labour Law Exam Question & Answer"

lawofwork.ca/can-canada-p...

[FWIW, I've never heard of a company laying off strikers. But Canada Post's peculiar move does raise interesting legal issues for discussion!]
November 28, 2024 at 6:03 PM
Long drive to Southern Ontario for a few days of collective bargaining. Recruitment and retention continue to challenge first responder sectors. #canlab. #bargaining.
November 25, 2024 at 1:38 AM
Big night in Ottawa, front row for Jim Cuddy. His son Devin Cuddy joined him and was amazing.
November 24, 2024 at 4:55 AM
Continuing to introduce myself to this new audience, the primary focus of my work is collective bargaining on behalf of labour unions. This ranges from education/training to being the voice at the table. Check out (and subscribe) to my quarterly newsletter at:

www.colelabour.ca/collective-b...
Collective Bargaining - NL | Cole Labour
www.colelabour.ca
November 16, 2024 at 4:26 PM
One of my interests is the relationship between union leaders & their memberships. I have had many conversations with leaders from around the world who express concerns about a growing distance between leaders & members. In response I started writing about it:

www.colelabour.ca/featured-art...
Member Engagement | Cole Labour
Interested in union member engagement issues - check out the first COLE LABOUR newsletter on how to create greater commitment, participation and engagement within your union membership.
www.colelabour.ca
November 16, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Let me make a good first impression on this new site. Here’s a five minute exposure of the night sky at my cottage.
November 15, 2024 at 11:05 PM