First Steps in Building Power Mapping and Campaign

First Steps in Building Power: Mapping and Campaign Planning

Organising Building power Unity Collectivism Winning Making a difference Mobilising Finding new activists Education Transformational

Organising in action • • Needs a bit of planning and analysis. Doesn’t spontaneously happen! Your time is precious, be realistic. Pick something that hacks people off at work and is easily fixable. • Choose not to fix it for people but involve them. • Use a few simple techniques.

Choosing Your Campaign Issue • Can you win big? • If you can’t win big, win small instead! • Is the campaign winnable, visible, something you can mobilise around, will make a difference? • Listen and find the issues. Develop a campaign goal.

Define your campaign issue and goal.

Mapping • Different types of mapping – Lists – Pictures – Community connections Helps us to: – Create a solid picture of where you are strong and where the union is weaker. – Tells us where to focus our efforts. – Helps you to communicate personally to members and mobilise when necessary.

Look at the example maps around the room – choose which method you think would suit your campaign.

Where does the power lie? • Who has the real power to make the change you want? • Who influences them? • What will persuade them? • Where does your power lie?

Identify who has the power to change things in your campaign.

Plan Your Tactics • • • Escalating from low risk to high risk. Members experience what it means to act collectively. Small actions first with a low risk to workers. Be imaginative and creative. Ask contacts / activists to be involved. Use your map!

Come up with one creative campaign tactic.

What next? • Identify potential activists and support them to become involved. • Identify a bigger issue to campaign on. • Think of other visible workplace activity to keep momentum going.