How to negotiate when I don't have any leverage?

Post date: 2021-10-16 06:05:29

I live in a small country that is outside of the United States, UK, Canada or Europe etc. I work for an online business that has been bought by a big US company and has now changed from a relatively small family business to a huge global enormity. One of the results is that they are changing the way we are paid and how many hours we can work per week. I have no idea how to approach this process, how do I negotiate, when as far as I can see my only leverage is "if you do x I will leave" and an ultimatum seems like a bad idea, especially if I don't think I can afford to leave?

I had a meeting with a management person yesterday who *said* they don't want to lose anyone, but also repeated several times that they prefer employees who don't rely on this job as their sole income. Which seems like a red flag to me.
(It is also ludicrous to me as they expect us to work like professionals, and advertise their services using our names and expertise as a selling point.)
I'm very well qualified, have been working for this place for more than 15 years, and I created the very successful service we provide, that has been getting very good customer feedback consistently. I know I have a very good reputation with the people I work with directly.
But I'm also quite sure that new management, who are dealing with hundreds of employees sorry I mean *contractors * would not blink to get rid of me and replace me with an inexperienced random person. Since their business model seems to rely on the idea that we are interchangeable units.
I'm waiting for a second meeting where they will tell me how they want to employ and pay me from now on.
I'm not looking for advice on the specifics of what my employers may want to change etc.
More advice on how does one approach such a negotiation?
I feel as if I am in a position with very little leverage, but maybe that is not the right attitude to have going in to a discussion like this?

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