HOW TO The Baltic Organising Academy How to Build a Multinational and Multisectoral Organising Program MIKA HÄKKINEN November 2013 Due to globalized economy the trade union movement more and more needs to look for ways to work across national and sectoral borders. By organising new, active members heedless of national and sectoral boundaries Unions have to improve their organisational and collective strength to develop employees' working and living condi­tions in workplaces, industries and in society as a whole. The Baltic Organising Academy(BOA) is such a multinational, multisectoral organising program whose purpose is to evolve unions capable of organising and growth in the Baltic countries. 32 different organisations from seven nations are contributing directly either financial or human resources. Participating unions collect resources, develop or­ganising strategies and campaigns, train and coach staff and volunteers for actual or­ganising campaigns across national borders. Current participants represent Nordic, Estonian and Lithuanian trade unions and focus their work on industrial, service and transportation sectors. Jointly they build well­organised and durable union structures in strategically selected target companies. This paper openly highlights the challenges, barriers, solutions and successes encountered during the BOA's life cycle. The story focuses on the choices that made the program into what it is today and gives practical hints how to organise and implement similar programs.