This page is maintained by the Rank and File (RAF) Caucus of AWU-CWA Local 9009. Organizing is how workers build collective power. It is a deliberate, strategic process of building relationships, identifying leaders, and moving people from passive support to active participation.
Workers individually have very little power against large employers. Organizing builds enough collective power to win better pay, safer conditions, and protection from retaliation. Organizing is an ongoing process of building relationships and developing leaders throughout the workplace.
Real growth comes from organizing — talking to people who are not yet involved and bringing them in.
The foundation of organizing is the one-on-one conversation with a coworker about their concerns and getting involved:
The 1-on-1 is a conversation, not a pitch. Listen more than you talk.
Workplace mapping is systematically identifying workers, understanding their concerns, and tracking support levels. A good map helps you know who you have reached, identify informal leaders, track commitment levels, and prioritize outreach. Update the map regularly as you have conversations and as the workforce changes.
The goal is to find organic leaders — people others already trust and listen to. Signs include: people who are informally consulted by coworkers, people others naturally follow, people willing to speak up, and people with strong relationships across the workplace. When you find these people, invest time in them, give them increasing responsibility, and mentor them.
A structure test is a small action that tests whether your organization is real. Examples: signing a petition, attending a meeting, wearing a union pin. If people who said they would act do not, that tells you the relationship needs more work or the ask was too big.
Pick one coworker you trust, have a 1-on-1, and see where it goes. You do not need all the answers — just listen and be authentic. For more support, reach out to a RAF organizer, or check the AWU Public Calendar for trainings.
Maintained by the RAF Caucus | Wiki Home | Content reflects RAF Caucus perspective and may not represent official AWU-CWA positions.