Leading Effective Campaigns
Organizing campaigns can help build the strength of our union by educating our members on various issues, engaging our communities in current political debates and uniting people around a vision for more equal and fair communities.
Campaigns can be run at local, provincial and national levels and are important to prompt our members to take action on issues that have an on themselves, on their families and on all Canadians.
Building an effective campaign starts with three essential components:
- Set Goals
Set clear goals for your campaign to ensure that you have a direction and intended impact. Your goals can include both a long-term vision and short-term objectives. Some examples:
- Affect decisions or policy at the local, provincial or federal level
- Build solidarity and collaboration among local and community members
- Provide an alternative vision to what is usually broadcasted in the news
- Work towards a better quality of life for everyone
- Address social and economic inequalities
2. Identify Strategies
The strategies you identify aim to help you reach your goal. They will act as your action plan for the campaign you are organizing. They should be broad and flexible. You should be able to define them in more detail when you identify your tactics (see point 3). Some examples:
- Broadcast your message in the media
- Build a local coalition that meets regularly to organize campaign actions
- Organize community and membership outreach
- Raise awareness of members and/or the public on a particular issue
3. Develop Tactics
Tactics that will act as concrete tools to fulfill your strategies. They can be as diverse and creative as you want them to be. You can combine several tactics to fulfill your strategies. Some examples:
- Hold a community rally or action and invite new members or people who do not usually come to events
- Start a letter-writing campaign
- Develop a website for your campaign with key documents, action items and other useful information
- Create flyers, bookmarks, magnets or other printed awareness materials
- Write letters to the editor and encourage members to do the same
- Start a petition
Be creative! There are many ways to educate people around you and to engage them to work for positive change.
Other notes:
- Make sure your campaign connects to your local members and community
- Tap into your resources: at the local, regional and national levels, many resources (financial, material, help and advice) may be available to help you roll out your campaign. Use them!
- Don't forget to update the national and regional office on your campaign efforts
