One big comm for one big union! Post union / labour related news, memes, questions, guides, etc.
Here Are Some Resources to help with organizing and direct action
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And More to Come!
If you want to speak to a union organizer, reach out here.
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It's been just under 2 weeks since that thread, in which someone replied telling you that you should expect to wait weeks for a response because they were swamped.
I know that technically it has almost been weeks plural, but still, it seems a little premature to call that ghosting.
Hey now, I can't remember that much stuff at one time! /hj
For real though, they should change the email response that promises someone will get back to you within 48 hours. That's just misleading.
Lol sounds like it. No volunteer org does anything in 48 hours reliably.
Probably everyone forgot about the autoresponder.
The NARA GHQ is way fucking behind on administrative shit right now, and a lot of people are mad about it. There have been official letters written by branches and such about it, and apparently a lot of drama on the official drama channels. The branches are all still waiting on all of the dues remittance checks from this year, no new member or delegate applications have been processed this year, and it's been very frustrating.
So, it's not just you!
seems like it's been this way for years tbh
It's been this way since atleast 2017
It's gonna be a while before they can get back to you. None of this is a fast process and the IWW only has so many people to handle this stuff, you're on the callback list and your turn will come. They're not gonna use any personal information for nefarious means, unionizing isn't a quick process. Be patient
What do you mean by ghosted? They don't respond to an email? The prior thread was posted 13 days ago and it sounded at that time you hadn't yet contacted them. So I guess it has been less than 13 days.
You said you aren't in a hot shop that it is a long term situation. So there isnt a hurry.
Unless you were supposed to meet up and they no showed or something. That would be another story.
Did you find any other good candidate unions?
I mean, there's basically Teamsters. There was one potential fit in terms of labour type niche, but their website implies they only take new individual members who are looking to get a job via apprenticeship.
Phone them anyway. They might know who to talk to. I wouldn't rely on a websearch only to find leads.
District labor council?
The closest one is four provinces away, but I did bookmark the number yesterday.
If you can't set up a one on one, go to one of their Organizing 101 meeting, especially if you're already a paying member. Most likely Organizers will be there and you will learn the same things you'll learn in meeting with them. The end goal of any union that sets up with the IWW is that eventually enough of your co-workers also become organizers at your workplace and then you can stop meeting with the IWW and hold your own meetings.
In the meantime the biggest thing you can start on while waiting to hear from an organizer is to start social mapping your workplace, identify social leaders and start listening to what your co-workers are also complaining about. You're going to have to do the thing all Hexbear users hate, Socializing IRL. Just remember listen 80% of the time and talk 20% of the other time.
Don't straight up use the "Union" Word around folks unless you think they're in to be on the Organizing committee
I was trying to get one of the other organizers to go to one of their 101 sessions since they used to have them all the time, but it looks like they no longer do in that area. I assume COVID killed it first, and then nobody ever really got it going again.
Whether or not you work with the IWW or any other organization you're going to be following a similar path of mapping, identifying leaders, and building an organizing committee. Don't wait for an organizer to do it for you because they won't.
You can find info about this stuff online but if there's anything I can do to help feel free to ask. I was ghosted by a large union and it sucks but it doesn't mean we stop.