Over the last few weeks we’ve moved step by step. We started with small actions that reduced isolation. We made issues visible inside the workplace. We shared them publicly in a coordinated way. Each of those stages had the potential to resolve the problem, and sometimes they do, but just as well, sometimes they don’t.
When that happens, the feeling that tends to surface is frustration. You’ve talked with people, you’ve shown up together, you’ve made the issue known, and nothing has changed. That is usually the point where groups either lose momentum or decide to get organized.
Getting organized is not about doing more. It is about doing things in a way that people can sustain.
The first part of that is bringing in staff support. At this stage you should not be trying to figure everything out on your own. Reaching out to solidarity@wpea.org connects you with an Organizer who can help you think through options, timing, and what support already exists inside the union. That doesn’t take the campaign out of the hands of members. It gives members access to experience and infrastructure so the work is shared.
The next part is having an escalation plan. Not a document that answers every possible question, but a shared understanding of what the next month looks like and a general sense of where the next six months could go. That plan starts with an honest conversation about what actions people are actually willing to take. Once you have that list, you order those actions from the lowest lift to the highest and build a timeline that begins with the softest step.
This is also the point where roles become vital.
One person can carry an issue for a while, but no one can carry a campaign alone. Even a strong group will lose energy if everything flows through the same two or three people. The structure we use most often is simple:
- A communications lead who keeps people informed
- An events lead who plans the moments where people gather
- Member outreach volunteers who make sure no one falls out of the loop
- A coordinator who keeps those pieces connected.
Those roles exist whether you meet in person or online. The format changes, but the need for clear responsibility does not.
None of this is about turning members into staff or turning this into a legal process. It is about moving from a series of actions to a shared effort with direction. When people know what the next step is and who is carrying which part of the work, the campaign stops depending on urgency and starts depending on structure.
Next week we’ll talk about what it takes to sustain that structure over time, and how groups maintain energy for the long haul, so join us at UNITY and bring your voice to the conversation.
Joey Hicklin – WPEA Organizer & IT Admin
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