How to start organising in your workplace

Organising is one of the most important ways to achieve wins for workers. By organising effectively around issues that are affecting you at work, you can become a strong collective voice and campaign for real change.

What is organising?

Across every sector and industry we represent, organising is the most important way that we as your union can secure positive, lasting change. But what exactly is organising? And how does it benefit you?

Unfortunately, we regularly hear from Community members who work in environments where employers don’t have the interests of their employees at heart, and often use their position to disadvantage employees. In situations like this, it is vital that employees work together as a collective voice to organise and resolve issues.

A collective voice is much stronger than an individual voice, and it is hard to ignore! So working collaboratively (also known as organising) at a workplace level is crucial. When you organise at work, can include:

• Identifying any and all issues at work that are affecting you and your colleagues,
• Involving all Community members at your workplace in decision-making in the workplace on campaigns, policy, pay and much more
• Supporting any Community Representatives in your workplace
• Developing the skills of all Community Representatives in undertaking their role
• Effectively communicating with Community members in your workplace on current issues

How to organise around workplace issues

To organise around workplace issues, you must first identify one, or multiple workplace issues that you and your colleagues feel strongly about.

This could include a health and safety issue, diversity and equality, or even a pro-union campaign. You can then use that issue as a focal point to begin recruiting and organising around. It can be anything, as long as it is something relevant and engages the attention of your colleagues.

Once you have identified an issue, you can begin organising around it. This could include:

• Producing and sharing leaflets and information about the issue
• Tell people what you’re trying to achieve by organising
• Hold a meeting, or regular meeting with colleagues to discuss the issue
• Encourage non-members of Community to join so that they can add their voice to your organising efforts

P.S. Non-members in your workplace are more likely to join if they see the proactive work you are doing to organise around issues in your workplace.

Getting started with organising

Whether you are a Community Rep or Branch Secretary, you are vital in our organising efforts. Within your role as an activist, you are responsible for building relationships with members in your workplace, communicating effectively, representing your members and securing results in negotiations. On top of this, we need you, within your role, to organise your workplace effectively. Here are 10 ways to start organising:

1. Research what to organise around

Before organising, you should first look into exactly what issues are affecting members in your workplace. Don’t assume you know, and asking members before organising can make a world of difference in making them feel heard and involved in the union.

2. Set realistic organising objectives

When organising, you should first settle on what you want to organise around. Is it an issue with management? Are you wanting to unionise your workplace? You should, above all, be realistic about your objectives and set yourself a flexible goal. We’re not expecting you to recruit 100% of your workplace overnight.

3. Manage your time effectively

Juggling your responsibilities as a Community activist, as well as your personal and professional life can feel like a juggling act sometimes. So make sure you are managing your time effectively when it comes to organising. Ask yourself, do you need to attend any meetings or events? Are your members available at those times?

4. Who are you targeting with your organising efforts?

Is your goal to recruit more Community members? If so, are you targeting a specific department or shift pattern? What issues are affecting those members specifically, and how can you effectively target them with your recruitment efforts.

5. What organising resources do you need?

Each workplace is different, and with it, the resources you will need will be different. If you’re working in a prison, where members won’t have access to electronic devices, then printed literature, such as posters, leaflets and flyers will be the way forward. If you’re working from home, or from different offices, you should try the digital approach by using social media, WhatsApp and the company intranet.

Visit our RepCentre to find a number of printed and digital resources. If you need any resources or information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

6. Organise together with other Community Reps

If there are other Community Reps in your workplace, then you should consider sharing any organising tasks with them. This can be as simple as distributing printed literature, emailing members, or engaging more with branch meetings to encourage member action.

This can be especially useful if you are not always on the same shift pattern, so your coverage will be expanded through other Community Reps.

7. Build relationships in the workplace

Members. Non-members. Employers. Managers. Community Organisers. Other Community Reps… It is vital that you build relationships with everyone that can help you organise and achieve your goal.

It is always helpful to know people before approaching them with an organising ask or need. This will make organising with them much easier when the time comes.

8. Keep the conversation going

Once you have launched an organising campaign, it is important to keep momentum. It is far too easy to sit back and let your organising efforts go to waste, so make sure to think of new ways to keep the conversation going. How often will you communicate updates? Can you think of any new angles to approach your organising efforts with? Can you involve anyone new, such as new Community members or Reps? Can you expand your organising efforts to target a new group of people in your workplace?

9. Reviewing your organising efforts

We would always recommend reviewing your organising efforts. This should include any and all challenges you have faced, what worked and what didn’t work. Don’t forget to think about what you can do to overcome these challenges, and what lessons you have learned from any failure.

Do not be ashamed if your organising efforts didn’t work out as you intended – organising can be a difficult thing to undertake, even for the most experienced Community Reps.

10. Celebrate your organising achievements

No matter how big or small, you should celebrate any achievements secured through your organising efforts. Recruited a few members? Brilliant! Implemented a new policy at work? Amazing!