October 31, 2024
As a union organizer, you're about to embark on an exciting journey with your coworkers. But before you can take on the boss and win, you'll need to build collective power. In this article, we'll share five essential tips to help you get started.
Brand new to all this? Check out What's a Labor Union and How are Labor Unions Created? for a solid foundation.
As John Lewis said, "You have to move your feet." Building a strong union takes lots of legwork, but you'll have plenty of help at every step. Organize is a great resource for guiding you along the way, but there's no replacement for actually getting out there with your coworkers and demonstrating your power through collective action.
So how do you go from just you to having the strength-in-numbers needed to create positive change in your workplace? By talking to your coworkers 1-on-1! As simple as it sounds, 1-on-1 organizing conversations are the bedrock of every good organizing campaign. In these 1-on-1s, you identify a workplace issue that gets your coworker fired up, and then discuss how collective action is the most effective way to address that issue.
For more info, see 5 Tips for Great 1-on-1 Organizing Conversations.
Organizing efforts often focus on mobilizing coworkers who already want to be in a union. While this approach can work well in the beginning, it rarely achieves the 80% supermajority of support recommended for the big union election. That's because it's unlikely that 80% of your coworkers even really know what a union is. Even if they do, recruiting all of your coworkers one-by-one isn't an efficient use of your time.
A more effective approach is to focus on identifying and recruiting the organic leaders within your workplace. These are individuals who are already trusted and respected by many of their colleagues. When organic leaders call for action, they are likely to inspire others to join in. Initially, these leaders may not be committed to unionization themselves, but once you've convinced them, they can play a crucial role in quickly turning the tide of support among their colleagues.
For more info, see 6 Tips for Identifying Organic Leaders.
As you start to build momentum, it's essential to gauge your organization's strength. When you have just a few members, it's wise to keep your organizing drive hidden from bosses to prevent retaliation. However, once you recruit 30% to 50% of your coworkers, you have the strength-in-numbers to take your campaign public.
Structure tests are public actions that demonstrate your coworkers' growing confidence in each other's collective power. Examples include signing a petition or poster against the boss, wearing union stickers or red shirts on Fridays, and joining pro-union rallies or marches. Going on strike is the ultimate structure test, but it shouldn't be attempted until you're very confident in your support. By participating in structure tests, each coworker risks punishment from the boss, which shows how strong their commitment really is.
For instance, if you've recruited 50% of your workplace but only 40% actually wore union stickers during the last structure test, it's clear that more work needs to be done. But if you've recruited 90% of your workplace and 85% show up to the rally, you can confidently declare yourself ready for your union election.
Structure tests also help gauge the effectiveness of the organic leaders you identified. If an organic leader fails to convince most of their colleagues to join in a structure test, it's time to focus on finding a better organic leader among those colleagues.
For more info, see Prove You're Ready to Beat the Boss with Structure Tests.
As you grow your organization, it's essential to build community allies who support your cause. These allies may include local community groups, labor organizations, and other stakeholders who can provide valuable resources, expertise, and advocacy.
But why is building these alliances so important? When workers strike, their actions often have unintended consequences for groups outside the workplace – such as inconvenience to customers, disruptions to supply chains, or negative impacts on local businesses. However, if community allies understand why workers are taking action (e.g., to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions), they're more likely to channel their anger and frustrations toward the boss, rather than at the workers themselves.
By proactively reaching out to these community groups and educating them about your cause, you can build strong alliances that amplify your message and support your efforts. This can help you avoid unintended consequences and build a stronger, more resilient union in the long run.
For more info, see 5 Tips for Creating Community Allies.
As your support grows, it's critical to educate members about the tactics used by employers to undermine your efforts. This includes recognizing signs of union busting behavior and knowing how to respond effectively.
Unfortunately, many workers don't realize they're being targeted by anti-union tactics until it's too late. By educating your members on these tactics, you can empower them to defend their rights and build a stronger, more resilient union.
For more info, see 5 Union Busting Strategies and How to Stop Them.
If you implement all 5 tips above, you'll have no problem building enough collective power to win your union recognition vote, which officially certifies that you successfully formed a union! After that, management is legally forced to negotiate with your union in good faith. That means you and your coworkers get a real seat at the bargaining table and a clear path to meaningfully improve your workplace.
For more info, see How to Win Big in Union Contract Negotiations.
Want to form your own labor union? Download Organize free to get started today.