Union Building Tools
Here are a few activities UNITE local leaders have used to educate members on issues, to get member involved in a fight, to show unity and put pressure on the company, or to develop new union leadership in the shop.  

 What can you add to the list?

 
  • Have an informal 'meeting' in the lunch room

  • Pass out a leaflet

  • Set up an information table in the lunch room

  • Have short meetings right after work, maybe in the parking lot

  • Have a button (or sticker) day

  • Have a union hat or T-shirt day

  • Have a RED day (or a BLUE day)

  • Get lots of people to file individual grievances

  • Get people to sign a petition or group grievance

  • Get a big group to deliver a petition or group grievance

  • Get lots of small groups of people to ask the boss when the problem's going to be solved & keep asking until they get an answer.

  • Have a pep rally in the lunch room

  • Put daily notices on the union bulletin board to keep people up to date

  • Go to the top (CEO, board of directors, shareholders) with letters or petitions

  • Explain an issue or event with a skit in the lunch room

  • Have a prayer meeting in the lunch room

  • Have a rally or informational picket line outside the plant before or after work

  • Use cartoons, adapted to the problem, to add a little humor

  •      'Write up' the supervisor or other management, and 'call him in the office' (or lunchroom) to present the warning (even if he doesn't show).

  •      Ring bells or blow whistles or shake soda cans full of pebbles at appropriate times (when the boss does something wrong, or every time the problem happens, or every hour or so as a reminder)