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Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing

Ever wondered how to form a union where you work?

This training series will help you build your union from the ground up alongside workers in your industry.

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The Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee’s Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing Program is a four-part series of presentations and small group discussion. Workers and organizers in non-unionized shops meet to explore the first steps of organizing a workplace.

In four 90-minute weekly sessions, we discuss how workers can unite to address issues at their workplace and how to begin the process of unionization.

Topics Covered

Mapping and Charting

Building an Organizing Commitee

Uniting Over Common Concerns

Getting Over Fear

Taking Action

Escalating Demands

You’ll hear from experienced organizers and other workers organizing their own workplaces and practice connecting with your co-workers and engaging in collective decision-making around common concerns.

You’ll also learn how to prepare yourself and your co-workers to take collective action and how to lay the groundwork for unionization.

“I really appreciated how actionable the presentation felt, in terms of laying out specific action steps from forming an OC to mapping and charting employees. I also really appreciated the emphasis on forming a diverse and representative OC!”
“I LOVED the breakout groups, this was actually really empowering and connective in addition to being really informative. Hearing all the different nuances of what people's challenges and ideas were brought reality to the conceptual points of the training.”

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Training Series Dates

Please contact [email protected] if you have questions.

Week 1: Developing Leadership
Sunday, March 9
1:00–2:30 p.m. ET/10:00–11:30 a.m. PT
Week 2: The Organizing Conversation
Sunday, March 16
1:00–2:30 p.m. ET/10:00–11:30 a.m. PT
Week 3: The Arc of the Campaign
Sunday, March 23
1:00–2:30 p.m. ET/10:00–11:30 a.m. PT
Week 4: Inoculation and the Boss Campaign
Sunday, March 30
1:00–2:30 p.m. ET/10:00–11:30 a.m. PT

Upcoming dates:

  • May 7, 14, 21, and 28 at 9 p.m. ET

Sessions

Week 1

Developing Leadership

Learn how to use a chart, assess co-workers and build a team to organize with. The organizing committee is the backbone of any organizing effort, and the chart is the best way to track your project.

Week 2

The Organizing Conversation

Learn how to talk, listen to co-workers and learn what they care about, how to assess them, and ultimately how to get them to support the campaign, plus the importance of socializing before you organize, and getting to know your co-workers.

Week 3

The Arc of the Campaign

Learn what steps should an organizing committee takes together to build their campaign and how to choose demands that are popular, targets that have decision making power, and escalation tactics that build confidence among your co-workers?

Week 4

Inoculation and the Boss Campaign

Learn how to prepare yourself and your co-workers for the boss’s counter campaign, why inoculation is critical, and how to stick to your positive message, not the boss’.

Week 5

Climate Justice at Work

Bonus: Twice a year we include a special session on how the changing climate is affecting workers in many industries and how organizing on the job can help build a just future.

Sign Up for Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing

Registration is limited to the first 120 people who sign up.

EWOC is volunteer-run and people powered! We rely on people like you to make these trainings happen. Can you contribute $20 to make sure we keep offering them?

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