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Building Member Support for Organizing

Frame the goal in terms of uniting with us more workers who do the same kind of work or deal with the same employers so we all have more strength to win improvements, not in terms of the union organizing workers just to help those workers or to add numbers, size, or power to the institution.

Educate members about obstacles workers face when they try to unite with us.

Show real-life examples of how effective and necessary it is for members to talk to unorganized workers and to help get public officials and community allies to encourage employers not to interfere with workers’ freedom to choose a union.

Worksite Communication

 Recruit members to talk with unorganized workers.

Help member organizers report back to other members about what they experienced and why all members have a stake in uniting with us all workers who do the same work or deal with the same employers.

Bring unorganized workers to unionized worksites to talk about why they are trying to unite with us to build new strength for all.

Ask members to sign petitions or postcards or make phone calls to urge certain public officials or employers to support workers’ freedom to choose a union.

Phone Banks and Email Alerts

Ask members to take urgent action to support workers’ freedom to unite with us.

Have the call or email asking members to take action come from other members or unorganized workers who are involved in the campaign.

Printed and Electronic Publications

Show unorganized workers telling why they want to unite with us.

Show members involved in helping workers unite with us.

Photos of members talking with unorganized workers.

Quotes from members on why they gave up precious time to volunteer, how they overcame anxiety about whether they could do it, how much they found they had in common with unorganized workers, etc.

Quotes from unorganized workers on why members had credibility with them.

Suggest to members how they can talk to unorganized workers who do the same kind of work about how they benefit from the union and how we can all be stronger together.

Ask members to contact particular public officials or community allies about supporting workers’ freedom to choose a union in current campaigns.