Most employers want to formulate a good relationship with their unionized staff, but usually their only resources for how to do this are expensive law firms entrenched in union busting tactics.
Meanwhile, many unions are operating from a century-old playbook, facing a complacent membership, and struggle to move members to action.
Labor Forward provides affordable consulting services to businesses, organizations, and labor unions so you can work efficiently and address the needs of your constituents - whether employees or members. We provide an expert, outside perspective to help you adapt to the ever-changing landscape of work and communication with integrity, strength, and cohesion.
Moving Labor Forward
Meet the Co-Founders
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Allison is a sound engineer and designer turned organizer for The Animation Guild, a national union of artists, writers, and production workers in animation. Prior to that, she was an International Representative with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), negotiating contracts, assisting Local unions, and helping workers organize their workplaces. She’s helped hundreds of entertainment industry workers achieve better working conditions and more dignity on the job at institutions like Walt Disney Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, LA Opera, and The Wallis. She’s a graduate of the Advanced Labor Academy at Wayne State University.
Prior to her role with the IATSE, she developed and produced theater with an emphasis on social justice with her company Smartt Productions, touring nationally to over fifteen cities. She has taught at California Institute of the Arts and Mount Holyoke College and her theatrical designs have been seen and heard at La MaMa, REDCAT and more. Her film and podcast work can be heard on Political Playlist Happy Hour Podcast, in #PrayFor, and more. She currently serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for the NextGen Board at the Motion Picture Television Fund and sits on the Board of Directors for the Media Benefits Corporation at First Entertainment Credit Union. She has the best dog, Rudy.
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Chris came to the labor field with a decade’s worth of experience in non-profit law, and over two decades of working in the non-profit field. After playing a key role in the unionization of Open Society Foundations, he was hired by his union, Communication Workers of America Local 1180, as a Staff Representative where he organized, and mobilized staff, negotiated national contracts, reviewed employee policies and navigated best practices. Over his tenure Chris has represented over a thousand workers across 22 shops for non-profits staff at Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, as well private companies such as Tutor Associates and Book and Rattles Inc.
In addition to his legal, labor and non-profit experience Chris has also sat on the Advisory Board of the McBurney YMCA, graduated and consulted for Cornell’s Union Leadership Institute, developed training programs and holds a certificate in Diversity Equity and Inclusion from Cornell.