celebrating the ‘tips for rookie organisers’ by the 1199 Union in 1985. originally published by overland.org.au
30cm ish x 50cm ish
Tell workers it’s their union and then behave that way.
Don’t do for workers what they can do for themselves.
The union is not a fee for service. It is the collective experience of workers in struggle.
Don’t be afraid to ask workers to build their own union.
Don’t be afraid to confront them when they don’t.
Communicate to workers that there is no salvation beyond their own power.
The union’s function is to assist workers in making a positive change in their lives.
Workers united can beat the boss. You have to believe that, and so do they.
Get close to the workers. Stay close to the workers.
The working class builds cells for its own defense — identify them and recruit their leaders.
Don’t spend your time organizing workers who are already organizing themselves; go to the biggest-worst.
Workers are made of clay, not glass.
Workers know the risks. Don’t lie to them.
Don’t underestimate the workers.
Anger is there before you are. Channel it, don’t defuse it.
Channeled anger builds a fighting organization.
Every worker is showtime. Communicate excitement, energy, urgency, and confidence.
There is enough oppression in workers’ lives not to be oppressed by organizers.
Organizers talk too much. Most of what you say is forgotten.
We lose when we don’t put workers into struggle.
celebrating the ‘tips for rookie organisers’ by the 1199 Union in 1985. originally published by overland.org.au
30cm ish x 50cm ish
Tell workers it’s their union and then behave that way.
Don’t do for workers what they can do for themselves.
The union is not a fee for service. It is the collective experience of workers in struggle.
Don’t be afraid to ask workers to build their own union.
Don’t be afraid to confront them when they don’t.
Communicate to workers that there is no salvation beyond their own power.
The union’s function is to assist workers in making a positive change in their lives.
Workers united can beat the boss. You have to believe that, and so do they.
Get close to the workers. Stay close to the workers.
The working class builds cells for its own defense — identify them and recruit their leaders.
Don’t spend your time organizing workers who are already organizing themselves; go to the biggest-worst.
Workers are made of clay, not glass.
Workers know the risks. Don’t lie to them.
Don’t underestimate the workers.
Anger is there before you are. Channel it, don’t defuse it.
Channeled anger builds a fighting organization.
Every worker is showtime. Communicate excitement, energy, urgency, and confidence.
There is enough oppression in workers’ lives not to be oppressed by organizers.
Organizers talk too much. Most of what you say is forgotten.
We lose when we don’t put workers into struggle.
