Your Guide to Workplace Organizing

The act of organizing means coming together to address issues important to you as a worker — from sexual harassment to wages, workplace bullying, and benefits. We’re seeing workers rising up across the country to demand better pay and better working conditions – from the first unionized Starbucks in Buffalo, NY, the 10,000 worker John Deere strike demanding a better union contract, to workers winning their largest pay raise in The Bronx in 30 years at the Hunts Point Produce Market.

Knowing when and how to organize your co-workers can be daunting, so we’ve compiled a list of resources to help you formulate a strategy to win!

Download and print this worker safety organizing toolkit:

1. Create a map of your workplace and co-workers.
   • Guide 1: Start by understanding the physical make-up of your workplace.
   • Guide 2: From there, look at the social groups and relationships amongst your co-workers, and identify potential worker-leaders.
   • Guide 3: Then discuss your map to identify leaders and areas to focus on.
2. Use this printable spreadsheet template to create a contact list for your co-workers, track their concerns, and get them involved in the effort. Remember: there is strength in numbers!
3. Have effective conversations with your coworkers. Use these conversation guidelines to help your team identify issues and develop a plan with clear, measurable goals. A successful plan has a grasp on what winning looks like and potential obstacles you may face.

We discuss all of these tips, including organizing your workplace to be safer during COVID-19, in this video:

Now is the time for workers to come together in collective action to address ongoing issues and organize themselves. Present your demands in a way that’s clear and concise – it is your right as a worker to take necessary action.

We stand with you!

Many thanks to Labor Notes, Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee, and Brandworkers, who provided toolkit resources and helped develop our 2020 workshop.