The Gray Area with Sean Illing A master class in organizing
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Mar 16, 2020 Jane McAlevey, a Senior Policy Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Labor Center and author, dives deep into the art of organizing. She critiques the common mix-up between mobilizing and organizing, stressing the importance of genuine engagement over social media tactics. McAlevey discusses how organized labor can revive itself through authentic worker solidarity and raises the need for empathy in communication. By sharing her insights on effective strategies and the pitfalls of 'fake work,' she offers a roadmap for a stronger labor movement and impactful political action.
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Organizing vs. Mobilizing
- Organizers prioritize base expansion by changing opinions, while mobilizers activate those who already agree.
- Mobilizing is crucial for short-term goals like elections, but organizing is essential for long-term, transformative change.
Engage Non-Voters
- Don't just talk to registered voters; engage everyone in conversations about their self-interests.
- Connect those interests to broader societal issues to expand your base and influence opinions.
Overestimated Agreement
- The Bernie Sanders campaign likely overestimated shared agreement and failed to conduct effective voter assessments.
- Hard assessments involve testing voters' commitment through public actions and repeated engagement.
