Many attending the Teamsters sixth annual Organizers Conference learned about campaign communication strategies—with an emphasis on new technology—that the organizers will be able to take back to their local unions and employ on campaigns back home.
 
“The more traditional ways of communicating, through fliers and newsletters, are not enough in today’s organizing,” said Greg Chockley, a campaign coordinator with the Organizing Department. “We’ve got to use effective web sites, video and other modern technology, including text-messaging.”
 
Chockley presented at the “Communications for Organizing Campaigns” workshop, along with Kara Deniz, a project manager with the Communications Department; and Richard Negri, the Communications Department’s online manager.
 
The workshop leaders cited the FedEx Mechanics campaign web site (fedxmx.com) as an example of an effective and thorough campaign web site.
 
“The web site highlights the workers’ concerns effectively and shows how the different issues affect all of the workerforce, and offers solutions through a written contract to their problems” Chockley said. “The site and the campaign’s communications explore and give an in-depth look into the FedEx workforces’ issues.  We have provided alternative thoughts in various ways in our communications of the workers’ problems, which help the issues, really resonate with the workers.”
 
The workshop leaders used examples from the national FedEx site that they can employ in local campaigns. For example, for the “Stop the Bleeding” action at FedEx, which targeted the benefit cuts by FedEx, workers were asked to wear adhesive bandages to work. The bandage-wearing was promoted through the web site. Similar ideas can help propel the campaign.
 
The workshop leaders also showed the importance of video in campaigns and had the group do their own video, similar to the ones you see on YouTube.  They highlighted workers talking about how they have been intimidated and threatened by their employers, to help put a face to the need for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.
 
If you want further information or a copy of the workshop PowerPoint highlights, email Negri at rnegri@teamster.org