To be a good organizer, you have to not only have it in your blood, you have to have the passion inside you and be committed to promoting workers rights and improving labor conditions, you have to believe in fair wages and safe working conditions along with collective bargaining power, but, most of all, you have to be dedicated and committed to the workers needs, the things that get them heated, the things that agitate them the most, this, right there, is what we need to open our ears and listen to. These are the things that allow you to truly understand what is needed to get the worker to move. You have to get personal and read not only the situation, but you have to read the body language, read between the lines, to fully, deeply understand the worker. Doing this, Brian couldn't have hit the nail on the head better with all he said. An organizer has to deeply listen to the workers and connect through building value to be able to motivate the workers to create their own needed change and a fair and equitable workplace not only for themselves individually, but for all workers to have a voice in their working conditions. Building Solidarity starts during the beginning stages of a campaign, not the end. Understanding the worker, hearing the worker, reading the worker, all play vital roles in the success of an organizer to motivate and truly get the workers to move on their behalf for each other. That will overcome fear and create union brothers and sisters for life.....even before election day ever comes. Soldiers in battle have to believe in each other and trust each other if they want to achieve success on the battlefield. Organizing is it's own battlefield in a sense. The same way soldiers manifest their bond of Solidarity, workers will do the same if agitated and motivated. Workers will bring their own solutions, their own code......you just have to be able to listen, put together the clues, and the recipe for success will spell itself out. No two campaigns are the same, yes, the process is the same, but, the interaction, structure, and strategy all have to be uniquely tailored to each situation. I always tell my fellow organizers, don't watch me do a first meeting and try to memorize because no two will be alike. Instead, watch how I read the room, watch how I read the workers, but most of all, how I listen to the workers, let them do the talking, and then watch how I affirm and redirect their issues right back at them until they get pissed off and create solutions of their own. Every worker is different, just like every meeting. Listen and observe, but mainly listen. That's it.
Thank you for your tips, Brian. That was a very effective piece of organizing gold. Your techniques are well understood and heard. I couldn't concur with you more. Very refreshing and motivating read. Great job!
Tip # 19. If you don't house call the workers at that Mercedes plant, they are going to get crushed in an NLRB election. The workers leading the most recent union organizing campaign towards an NLRB election would not listen and ignored my good advice. I told them that without house calls to Mercedes employees homes they were about to get totally stomped on an crushed by the employer. Some workers there said "Oh it's different in the South. You can't visit them in their homes because they'll get offended and turn against the union." I've won organizing campaigns in Alabama and we would not have been able to win if we had not house called. Learn from your mistakes. Until Mercedes workers and UAW organizers are willing to house visit 80% plus of Mercedes bargaining unit employees, you won't win union recognition through the NLRB. And tip #20: Elect your bargaining committee before the NLRB union recognition election. Tip # 21 Survey one-on-one every worker in the bargaining unit for what they want in their collective bargaining agreement before that NLRB election. Tip # 21, read Kate Bronfenbrenner if you want to understand the science of union organizing. Ignore her research at your own peril. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/19958872.pdf
I volunteered on the Mercedes organizing campaign back in 1999-2000 and the UAW failed then for the same reason. Despite some great, skilled, and dedicated, hard-working UAW organizers there like Michelle Martin, others refused to house call because it is such hard work.
"You'll offend Southerners if you go to their house" is absolute bullshit. Wake up, UAW.
Call me if you need help. I'm happy to go to Vance and knock on doors.
Well said. Thoughtful, practical and necessary rules if you want to give workers power
Don't be afraid to take risks.
Do more important things, and fewer urgent things.
Spend time thinking about what is important with the people you are organizing, and organizing with.
Excellent. I have no former organizer tips to share, but appreciate the reminders and the new insights. This is good advice for all activism.
Iron Rule of Organizing
Never do for others/people what they can do for themselves.
To be a good organizer, you have to not only have it in your blood, you have to have the passion inside you and be committed to promoting workers rights and improving labor conditions, you have to believe in fair wages and safe working conditions along with collective bargaining power, but, most of all, you have to be dedicated and committed to the workers needs, the things that get them heated, the things that agitate them the most, this, right there, is what we need to open our ears and listen to. These are the things that allow you to truly understand what is needed to get the worker to move. You have to get personal and read not only the situation, but you have to read the body language, read between the lines, to fully, deeply understand the worker. Doing this, Brian couldn't have hit the nail on the head better with all he said. An organizer has to deeply listen to the workers and connect through building value to be able to motivate the workers to create their own needed change and a fair and equitable workplace not only for themselves individually, but for all workers to have a voice in their working conditions. Building Solidarity starts during the beginning stages of a campaign, not the end. Understanding the worker, hearing the worker, reading the worker, all play vital roles in the success of an organizer to motivate and truly get the workers to move on their behalf for each other. That will overcome fear and create union brothers and sisters for life.....even before election day ever comes. Soldiers in battle have to believe in each other and trust each other if they want to achieve success on the battlefield. Organizing is it's own battlefield in a sense. The same way soldiers manifest their bond of Solidarity, workers will do the same if agitated and motivated. Workers will bring their own solutions, their own code......you just have to be able to listen, put together the clues, and the recipe for success will spell itself out. No two campaigns are the same, yes, the process is the same, but, the interaction, structure, and strategy all have to be uniquely tailored to each situation. I always tell my fellow organizers, don't watch me do a first meeting and try to memorize because no two will be alike. Instead, watch how I read the room, watch how I read the workers, but most of all, how I listen to the workers, let them do the talking, and then watch how I affirm and redirect their issues right back at them until they get pissed off and create solutions of their own. Every worker is different, just like every meeting. Listen and observe, but mainly listen. That's it.
Thank you for your tips, Brian. That was a very effective piece of organizing gold. Your techniques are well understood and heard. I couldn't concur with you more. Very refreshing and motivating read. Great job!
Tip # 19. If you don't house call the workers at that Mercedes plant, they are going to get crushed in an NLRB election. The workers leading the most recent union organizing campaign towards an NLRB election would not listen and ignored my good advice. I told them that without house calls to Mercedes employees homes they were about to get totally stomped on an crushed by the employer. Some workers there said "Oh it's different in the South. You can't visit them in their homes because they'll get offended and turn against the union." I've won organizing campaigns in Alabama and we would not have been able to win if we had not house called. Learn from your mistakes. Until Mercedes workers and UAW organizers are willing to house visit 80% plus of Mercedes bargaining unit employees, you won't win union recognition through the NLRB. And tip #20: Elect your bargaining committee before the NLRB union recognition election. Tip # 21 Survey one-on-one every worker in the bargaining unit for what they want in their collective bargaining agreement before that NLRB election. Tip # 21, read Kate Bronfenbrenner if you want to understand the science of union organizing. Ignore her research at your own peril. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/19958872.pdf
I volunteered on the Mercedes organizing campaign back in 1999-2000 and the UAW failed then for the same reason. Despite some great, skilled, and dedicated, hard-working UAW organizers there like Michelle Martin, others refused to house call because it is such hard work.
"You'll offend Southerners if you go to their house" is absolute bullshit. Wake up, UAW.
Call me if you need help. I'm happy to go to Vance and knock on doors.