AWOLArbitration WithOut Lawyers

Building Effective Labor Arbitration Advocates

Practical training that builds confident, effective labor arbitration advocates.
Explore Training Programs
Practical Advocacy Skills
Real-World Simulations
AWOLArbitration WithOut Lawyers

Practical Guidance for Real Workplace Disputes

Focused resources to help you prepare cases, structure arguments, work with witnesses, and advocate effectively.
Explore Practical Resources
Practical Learning
Useful Tools & Insights
AWOLArbitration WithOut Lawyers

Training Designed for the Way You Work

Customized programs for union representatives, labor relations professionals, and workplace advocates.
Work With Us
Customized Programs
Flexible Delivery
01 / 03
about awol
About GoingAWOL

Bringing arbitration back to practical solutions

Going AWOL promotes practical, workplace-centered arbitration advocacy by helping union representatives, labor relations professionals, and others develop the skills needed to present cases with confidence.

Workplace-Focused Advocacy Training

Building Effective Advocacy Skills

Supporting Better Arbitration Outcomes

Read More About Us
Our Approach

Why the Going AWOL approach works

Labor arbitration works best when the people who understand the workplace are the ones presenting the case. Treating the process as equal to litigation has made arbitration more expensive, and less connected to the workplace. Going AWOL returns the focus to the principles that make advocacy effective.

Great Labor Arbitration Advocates Are Defined by Skill, Not Titles

You don't need to be a lawyer to be an effective advocate. Preparation, clarity, and sound judgment are more important than titles or degrees.

Develop the Practical Skills That Matter in Arbitration

Learn case preparation, witness examination, evidence presentation, and persuasive advocacy through practical training.

Designed for Union Representatives and Workplace Professionals

Built for union representatives, labor relations professionals, and others who advocate in workplace disputes.

Flexible Training Built Around Real-World Arbitration Experience

Apply practical skills through realistic exercises and scenarios based on real arbitration experience.

Our Programs

Practical training for effective labor arbitration advocacy

Build practical labor arbitration advocacy skills through interactive workshops, realistic case exercises, and workplace-focused training designed to strengthen preparation, judgment, and effective communication.

Know More
practical training awol

Practical Training

Hands-on skills for real arbitration cases

Read more about Practical Training
Modular Programs AWOL

Modular Programs

That can be tailored to your organization

Read more about Modular Programs
Custom-Designed AWOL

Custom-Designed

Built around your team's specific needs

Read more about Custom-Designed
Interactive learning AWOL

Interactive learning

Realistic exercises and live simulations

Read More about Interactive learning

We would welcome the opportunity to work with you.

If you are interested in training for union representatives, labor relations professionals, or mixed groups of advocates, we would welcome the opportunity to work with you.

Contact Us
Our Team

Meet the team

Our team brings together decades of experience in labor arbitration, advocacy, education, and labor–management relations. Having served as advocates, arbitrators, trainers, and practitioners, they combine practical workplace knowledge with real-world arbitration expertise to help others develop effective advocacy skills.

Charlene MacMillan

Charlene MacMillan

Arbitrator, Advocacy Trainer & Labor Relations Professional

Pa

Page A. Todd, Esq.

Arbitrator, Speaker & Labor Relations Professional

Richard (Rick) Bales

Richard (Rick) Bales

Law Professor, Arbitrator, Author, Speaker & Labor Relations Professional

Sylvia Skratek

Sylvia Skratek

Mediator, Arbitrator, Dispute Systems Designer & Labor Relations Professional