The Southern Electrical Contractors Association was incorporated in 2005 by the Union Contractors of Nashville, Tennessee in order to negotiate a more competitive Inside Working Agreement with Local #429 of the IBEW. The cumulative effect of concessions and unfavorable CIR decisions had deteriorated the Contractors’ market to the point where there would soon be no market to lose. Several recent bankruptcies signaled the warning loud and clear. The Contractors’ realized their background experiences and education had not properly prepared them with the knowledge and expertise required for successful labor negotiations. Furthermore, they were, for the most part, uninterested in the distractions and intricacies of the negotiating process. Recognizing that this placed them at a distinct disadvantage, the Contractors decided they needed a professional to negotiate for them. The prospect of retaining this advocate was financially and operationally overwhelming to each individual Contractor. By pooling resources and efforts, costs and lessons could be shared. SECA used its resources to support negotiations by providing advice (phone and e-mail access to expert labor attorneys) regarding NLRB issues, permissive negotiating subjects and other matters that helped the Contractors stay focused on the important concerns and avoid distraction of less important issues. With the knowledge acquired and the foresight / cooperation of the Local #429 Business Agent the Contractors were eventually successful in signing an agreement with working conditions, ratios and classifications that would compete in the local market. The guidance received and information shared was instrumental in arriving at this result and in the end showed that there can be a good result from taking a firm, informed negotiating stand. IBEW Local #429 and SECA are working together within the new agreement to have successful and secure IBEW members and Contractors.