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Connecting Members to the Larger Union Movement

Most union members are primarily interested in information about their own situation and action they can take to improve it, yet successful strategies increasingly require unity among members throughout a local union or with members of other locals, other unions, community groups, or even allies overseas.

While starting from members' immediate interests, we must find opportunities for them to experience and be reminded of the importance of pooling strength and resources in a larger movement beyond their own worksite.

Members need to know when…

• Other members of their local or of other unions or community groups are joining them in coordinated actions and strategies.
• Funding for their campaigns is coming from pooled resources.
• The political strength of other members or other organizations is being put to work to help achieve their goals.

Some examples of how to accomplish this include the following:

Joint actions. Petitions, sticker days, unity breaks, rallies, or other actions taken together with members of the larger movement bring unity and strength in numbers to life.

Brief references in worksite leaflets and raps. Every time we communicate with members, we should ask whether this is an opportunity to mention that people beyond their worksite are working for the same goal.

Photos of members taking joint actions. These can help show that broader unity is real.

Quotes from members of other locals or other organizations. When they say in leaflets why they support the same goals, that personalizes the message.

Visits to worksites or union meetings by allies from elsewhere. Nothing is as effective in making the larger movement real as personal contact.

Video or audio messages. If allies from other places cannot appear in person, they may be able to express their unity on tape.

Phone banking. Particularly in coordinated political and legislative activity, calls from other allies can be effective in building involvement in and understanding of a larger effort.

Courtesy of TheWorkSite.org