Building Strong Union Committee at Workplace
Course Description
In order to win any campaign at workplace, unions need to be strong enough to pressure the company. Building a strong and representative committee is the only way to win over the bosses who have well organized structure at workplace compare to workers.
- Class Starts on October 15, 2026
- Class Length: 1.5 hour Per Session
- Session Schedule: 5 Online Weekly Sessions
- Course Fee: USD$60 (Regular Price) / USD$40 (Students/Workers/Unemployed)
- If you are in financial difficulties and would like to apply for a fee waiver, please email us at convenor@labourschool.org, and a decision will be made by the course facilitator.
- Class Size: Class Limited to 10 Students (*first come first serve)
Registration Ends October 14, 2026
Course Starts on October 15, 2026
Course Facilitator
Sithar Chhim (She/They) is a Cambodian trade union leader. She serves as the president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU), the independent union representing workers at the NagaWorld casino in Phnom Penh since 2012. She has been recognized for her commitment to defending workers’ rights despite significant personal and professional risks. Her case has frequently been cited in discussions on:
- Trade union freedom in Cambodia.
- Protection of labor rights defenders.
- Women’s leadership in labor movements.
- Compliance with international labor standards, including those of the International Labour Organization.
She has also received international recognition for her advocacy, including a 2023 Human Rights Defender Award from the U.S. Department of State and 2024 Per Anger Prize by Living History Forum, a Swedish public agency under the ministry of culture to recognized for her relentless fight for democracy, fair wages, and human rights despite facing state harassment and imprisonment.
Class Time (Timezones in Asia)
- 6:00pm: Pakistan
- 6:30pm: India/Sri Lanka
- 6:45pm: Nepal
- 7:00pm: Bangladesh
- 7:30pm: Myanmar
- 8:00pm: Indonesia/Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam
- 9:00pm: Hong Kong/Taiwan/China/Philippines/Singapore/Malaysia
- 10:00pm: Japan/Korea
Class Project
Produce a status report to track committee members during the campaign.
Weekly Class Schedule
Session 1 (Oct 15, 2026): How We Win: Power Analysis, Building Our Power, what is a Union?
Purpose: Define exactly what a union is. Clearly differentiate between “us”, the workers, and “them”, the bosses. Understand what the bosses want and how workers hold power over them when we organize.
Outcome: Clear understanding of the relationship between workers and bosses. Understand how workers in collective action have power over their bosses. Reach a shared definition for the word “union.”
Session 2 (Oct 22, 2026): Building the Committee
Purpose: To clarify the importance of an active and representative committee that covers the entire workplace and give organizers the tools needed to focus their work on building these committees on their campaigns.
Outcome: All organizers will be capable of explaining the importance of committees and training their leaders on building a powerful committee on their campaigns.
Session 3 (Oct 29, 2026): Strengthening the Committee
Purpose: To ensure organizers can build active committees that can grow in strength and energy to take on the boss.
Outcome: All organizers will have strategies to assess and activate their committees and use structure tests as a tool for testing their capacity. Organizers will also have an opportunity to practice making these asks of committee members.
Session 4 (Nov 5, 2026): Structure Tests
Purpose: Understand the importance of structure tests and good preparation for escalation in a campaign.
Outcome: Organizers will feel confident tracking participation, design structure tests, and taking these actions on their campaigns.
Session 5 (Nov 12, 2026): Building Resilient Campaigns
Purpose: To discuss and expand on our campaigns, focused on retaining leaders and re-recruiting those that fall off during the campaign.
Outcome: Provide organizers the tools to maintain a campaign through challenges and roadblocks.
To contact us: convenor@labourschool.org
