Organising beyond the workplace

Organising and campaigning effectively during the downturn will place a premium on unions identifying the resources and sources of leverage available beyond the immediate workplace and in addition developing links and alliances not just with other trade unions but with other campaigning and advocacy organisations active within the community.

Unions can start this process by conducting what might be called a “power analysis” that would assess the union’s strength and influence in the workplace, company, industry/sector and community and in particular focus on:

• density across the company/industry/sector;

• existing union networks;

• company/industry councils/forums;

• the existence and quality of company/sector/industry agreements; and

• the presence of community organisations and extent of current and potential for future relationships with these.