1. Social Media Organising Techniques
MUA Young Workers Conference
Strachan Crang
Thursday, 3rd December 09

2. Agenda Communication Facebook and our developments
Screen shots of the Zeal 320 pages
Mechanics
Analysis
Other opportunities and future
Summary

3. Union Communication Union meetings One to one communication
Newsletters, flyers, magazines
Education and organising tool
Appreciated by members
Hated by the boss
Vital during a dispute

4. Social Media Disseminating information through social interaction
Information and knowledge that is highly accessible
Challenges industrial media TV and newspapers for “hits”
Social networking, file sharing, blogs,
Content that you can add to - interaction

5. Social Networking Started developing in 2002 in the US
Allows people to communicate privately and publicly with each other
Broken down communication barriers
Many applications – Bebo, Facebook, My space
Face book users now over 300 million.

6. Facebook organising Developed over 12 months during the Zeal dispute
Remote workforce = communication challenge
Allows members to have a meeting or forum at any time
Democratisies information and knowledge

7. Mechanics Closed group Controlled by admin users
Site is used to ask question about the application of their agreement
Coordinate action
Post union updates
Discussion/debate work issues

9. Mechanics Wall used for general debate, broadcasting information
Links to other pages including video, photos, events and discussion board
Moderation needed to answer questions, direct debate and ensure inappropriate material isn’t published
Members now self moderating

11. How we set it up Started group through the group application
Gathered the workers address when scoping the site
Members were invited into group by admin
Started slowly introducing union material to them
Daily communication about the bargaining progress
When the action started it took off.

14. Discussion board Post a papers/reports on a separate wall
Members can comment on the paper like a debate
We post our updates (newsletters)
Members post issues that they have so others can comment
Unlike the wall the discussion can be tracked

18. Analysis Pro’s Highly accessible Information sharing Organising
Fight fires early
Link other relevant sites and information
Democratises info
Member involvement
Con’s
Barrier to older members
Not 100% secure
Time consuming
It takes time to get running – 12 months
Not searchable

19. Other opportunities You tube - trade union ed, media
Skype - Conferences, trade union ed
Blogs - the new talkback radio
Flicker - comments, media access
Wikipedia - uploading union information

20. Future Developments - Wiki
Online encyclopaedia
Post information and then can be amended
Post a clause and application of clause
If the application changes or enhances the post can be amended
Discussion board included on web page
Fully searchable

21. Summary Can do this with any social interaction application
Highly accessible
Democratises information and knowledge
Organising tool
It doesn’t happen overnight be patient