The Bargaining for the Common Good (BCG) network has built an interactive map that gives us the ability to see local union contract expirations starting in 2022 and over the next decade.
This tool allows community groups and unions to see where there are big negotiations. It will help us to see how our struggles could support each other and where we could create common good demands.
We know the rich and powerful corporations have consolidated their wealth, control and power as we move out of this pandemic. Let's use this tool to organize around the natural alignment of contract expirations around the country to make common good demands in different sectors of the economy and geographies across the country.
Imagine the energy, excitement and movement we can build together if dozens of common good campaigns mirrored, magnified and built on the strikes of the last few years, including UTLA in Los Angeles (
https://forgeorganizing.org/article/lessons-la-teachers-common-good-campaign-and-strike-victory), AFSCME 3299 at the University of California (
https://forgeorganizing.org/article/bargaining-common-good-racial-justice) and teachers and support staff in Chicago (
https://forgeorganizing.org/article/chicago-teachers-strike-schools-our-students-deserve-and-city-our-community-deserves).
What if this was happening all over the country? Imagine if hundreds of community groups and unions engaged in overlapping campaigns over coordinated common demands, building on those local coalitions have pursued across the country such as all unused land and residential housing being dedicated to affordable housing, divestment from private prisons, detention and fossil fuels, and equitable funding for all schools. Imagine if the combination of common good demands painted a picture and told the story of the world we want to create in contrast to corporate and political demands for austerity.
Share information on your contract below to help build out this work!
Please reach out to BCG at with any questions at
bargainingforthecommongood@gmail.com.