Developing An Internal Communications Program For Your Local

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Where are your members getting their information??

Someone is going to message to your members… It might as well be you…

Who is your #1 Audience? Without the support of your membership, you aren’t going anywhere. The key is not sending information to your members… It’s understanding how they receive their information and adapting to make sure they get it.

Many union campaigns are lost before they even start because of a failure to get their members to support the cause… Why??? Members didn’t hear about it… Or they don’t trust the local… Members got worked up over false information being spread… Leadership never properly messaged the issue…

Communications As A Priority Integrate Into All Union Activities Not An After Thought Don’t Wing It- Develop a plan Identify Roles Budget Resources Make It a Priority Get Leadership Support

Members need to know the value of our union Without unions, we would not have the standard of living or the opportunity to provide a respectable life for our families. Automatic loyalty doesn’t just happen. Most workers entering the workforce for the past several years come from families that have no prior history of unionism. Lack of labor education and the mostly negative impressions generated by the mainstream media about unions has to be reversed.

Members need to know the value of our union Messaging to your members requires you to tell them about what you are doing daily for them. This goes against the whole “I am just doing my job” mentality. Members need to know what our union, NYSPFFA, and IAFF are regularly doing for them. It’s not “The Union.” It’s “Our Union.”

Don’t Make it About You… It’s About Us… It’s about OUR Union

What’s Our Union Doing for Us

Members Need to be Informed Three fastest forms of Fire Department Communications Telephone, Telefax, Tell a Fire Fighter In the absence of a strong message from your local, a member will start to believe false information and firehouse rumors… The local needs to develop the means to communicate with members on a regular basis…

E-MAIL NEWS BLASTS Great way to reach members. Provides pertinent information and links to what you want your members to know. Don’t use your department’s e-mail system. Pay attention to your open rates.

E-MAIL NEWS BLASTS Make sure E-mail addresses are up to date- NO Department E-mails Use an E-mail system that can track analytics. Average open rate: 15-18%. Subject Line of E-mail is very important to get opens.

WEBSITE Web sites, while declining in effectiveness, still have purpose. Great place to house all of your information online. Use social media to drive followers to your website.

WEBSITE Make sure your website is mobile responsive. Most people will view your website on their phone or tablet.

USING FACEBOOK INTERNALLY- Groups IAFF Locals can have their own local Facebook Group to reach members. Facebook groups are a great resource to communicate with your members. Privacy settings allow for more personal discussion.

FACEBOOK INTERNALLY: Going Live Raw video of live feed into a social media class in Texas- Sept. 2017. Topic- Strategic Campaigns Services

VIDEO UPDATES

VIDEO UPDATES

TEXT GROUPS Text groups offer a way to reach members directly. 95% of texts are viewed within 10 minutes after being sent. Beware of over usage and member data plans.

NYSPFFA Relay App

NYSPFFA Relay App

NYSPFFA Relay App

FACE TO FACE - Face to face meetings are still your best way to meet, inform, and energize your members. - Puts a face to all of the E-mails, texts, and social media messages.

TOOLS ARE NOT A STRATEGY Regardless of the methods you choose to deliver your message, the tool is not the strategy. Use these tools as part of your overall communications strategy.