How to Develop Community Support for Lobbying
Why build a coalition?
The more groups supporting an issue from a variety of perspectives, the more strength AFSCME has. Sometimes the media or an elected official won't deal with an issue that is brought to them by an AFSCME local, yet will work well with another person or organization supporting AFSCME's position. Statements from AFSCME may be seen as self-serving. Despite the union's concern for public service and public services, AFSCME is often seen as being concerned only with job security. Another organization's concern for the continuation of vital public services may be received more readily.
Building coalitions adds strength to AFSCME's position and additional pressure on decision-makers who want to respond to their constituencies. If elected officials perceive that their proposed changes in public policy are being opposed only by a few disgruntled employees and their union, they will probably proceed. If, however, they are bombarded with letters, postcards, petitions, visits, telephone calls, and news articles calling attention to and opposing their proposals, they might be convinced to stop them.
How to begin making contacts
The Lobbying Committee should begin by listing the natural allies for AFSCME's position. First, consider people the Committee members know and organizations the union has worked with in the past. The Committee may want to consider any of the following groups: religious, parents, social services, women's, other labor unions, minority, senior citizens, community-minded, advocacy, and political groups.
The Committee should remember that:
- Organizations traditionally known for their fairness in local matters can contribute a greater sense of legitimacy to AFSCME's position because of their reputation.
- Some groups will become involved in the coalition even if the issue doesn't affect them directly. They will support AFSCME now, if AFSCME will support them at a later date on another issue that's important to them.
- Sometimes the union will find itself aligned with groups AFSCME has opposed in the past. The Committee may work with a very conservative business group that is on the same side of a certain issue. That is the nature of a coalition.
The Committee may want to survey the membership to determine community groups and religious organizations to which they belong. It is generally easier to contact an organization with which you already have a common link.
Also, consider the different parts of the community that could be affected by proposed changes. How will they affect the local economy? the judicial/legal system? the children? Consult human service and community directories for more ideas. The yellow pages of the telephone book also list potential contacts.
How to begin working with other organizations
After generating a list of possible contacts, prioritize them. Depending upon the amount of time you have, start slowly and set specific short and long term goals. Goals should be realistic and "countable". For example, you may choose to contact 10 organizations over the next seven days. As in lobbying, you may also want to try role-playing the situation before actually initiating your first contact. Anticipate questions and concerns others may have. The easiest way to begin is to follow these steps:
- Gather preliminary information about the organization to be approached.
- Find out which AFSCME members belong to or have friends or relatives that belong to the organization.
- Send an introductory letter and arrange a follow-up personal visit. Have the member who is a link with the organization accompany you, if possible.
- Always consider motivations for the organization to become involved while preparing what to say during your initial meeting.
Ways others can demonstrate support for AFSCME's position
It is always helpful to ask for a group's support in a specific way. The Lobbying committee might ask them to:
- Pass a resolution to be submitted to the elected officials you have chosen to lobby.
- Write or sign postcards that you can collect and submit for them.
- Circulate petitions for support among their members.
- Contact the targeted officials via telephone or at a meeting.
- Contact the press with the group's statement or a joint statement with AFSCME.
- Participate in meetings with elected officials.
- Offer the names of other people and organizations that can be contacted.
- Write "letters to the editor".
- Allot time for discussion of the current situation at their membership meeting.
- Share information.
- Print an article about the situation in their newsletters.
- Form a support group for the campaign within their organization.
- Put a member on the coalition's steering committee should you decide to organize formally.
How to structure the coalition
You do not need to set up a name, a steering committee, by-laws or an office for the coalition to be effective. As your campaign evolves the need for a formal structure may become apparent. In the meantime, the activity that you have stimulated can contribute immeasurably to your lobbying effort.