Simulation

Galvis City Schools Collective Bargaining Simulation

  • Authors Brian S. Mandell, Elizabeth Patton, Monica Giannone, Brady Roberts

Last Updated

Topic
Strategic Leadership and Management

Location
Global

Overview

The Galvis City Schools Collective Bargaining Simulation is a seven-party exercise including six negotiators and one facilitator. Representatives from a large school district and its affiliated teachers’ union must negotiate for three rounds while the Mayor serves as a facilitator and convening presence.

Intro

Based on public sector labor negotiations in twenty-first century America, this exercise demonstrates that sides are not monolithic and cross-cutting coalitions are possible. It is set against a real-world backdrop of high-profile labor disputes, the potential damage of an economic downturn on city labor markets, and intensifying labor activism in the form of #RedforEd—the 2018 grassroots movement of educators culminating in a two-week walkout by thousands of teachers in West Virginia, concessions from the state, and copycat movements.

Accessing the Materials

Galvis City Schools Collective Bargaining Simulation includes participant materials for each of three rounds, plus an educator guide for instructors:

Round 1

  • General Instructions for all participants
  • Confidential Instructions for each of the seven roles
  • Round 1 results sheet
  • Round 1 preparation template

Round 2

  • Confidential Instructions for each of the seven roles
  • Round 2 results sheet
  • Round 2 preparation template

Round 3

  • Confidential Instructions for each of the seven roles
  • Additional instructions if no deal in Round 2
  • Round 3 results sheet
  • Round 3 preparation template

The Confidential Instructions, results sheets, and preparation templates can be downloaded at no cost via an Educator Access account through the Harvard Kennedy School Case Program.

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