There’s been a lot said about union websites – here’s four things we all know but are worth saying again. You’re not engaging anyone Your website doesn’t engage your members. Even if you allow comments. Even if you create a union “blog”. Even if you add a “share” or “tweet this” button to the bottom [...]
Union website design tip: always include a favicon
by admin on 21. May, 2010 in Blog, Campaigning
Just a quick tip for when you’re designing your union website: always include a favicon. A favicon is the little 16 pixel by 16 pixel icon that represents your website next to the address bar or in a tab. The favicon is an important part of your union’s website design. All major browsers will render [...]
The new WorkChoices ads
by admin on 30. Apr, 2010 in Blog, Campaigning, Elections
The ACTU Organisers Conference saw the launch of the election year advertisements from Australia’s labour movement. I’ll be writing up some highlights of the Organisers Conference (you can see some of the tweets using the #powerup hashtag) later, including some interesting campaigns that were showcased. In the meantime, here are the ACTU ads.
This year was great
by admin on 25. Mar, 2010 in Blog, Campaigning, Industrial Relations
The ITUC has launched a new online campaign highlighting the exploitation of workers and children in the third world. The campaign’s website – Change the World - is very professional, although it is unfortunately flash-based meaning that it takes a long time to load. The campaign’s posters are amazing – very confronting and stark in [...]
Five effective political lobbying tools for unions
by admin on 21. Mar, 2010 in Blog, Campaigning
Unions and union members are the largest voluntary associations in Australia, representing millions of workers in tens of thousands of work places. Legislation can have a profound impact on the rights and entitlements of working people, such as changes to occupational health and safety, tax, industrial relations, and trade and industry policy. It is therefore [...]
Delegates key to union power
by admin on 11. Feb, 2010 in Blog, Industrial Relations
Back in 2003-04, David Peetz and Barbara Pocock (from Griffith University and the University of Adelaide) conducted a survey of 2500 union delegates to examine the power of workers in their workplace. You can download the paper here (pdf). The paper on the report is definitely worth reading and at 11 pages (many of which [...]
What union members want from their union's communications
by admin on 06. Feb, 2010 in Blog, Campaigning
In my line of work, I hear a lot of opinion expressed as fact. A common one is that “union members don’t want our communications to look too corporate”, or “our members want a lot of detail, not a short summary”, or “our slogan should be ‘screw the boss’ or something like that”. You get [...]
Key messaging advice for unions
by admin on 20. Jan, 2010 in Blog, Campaigning
Every union communication challenge is unique – the circumstances, membership, employer, and so on are different every time. Having a framework to assist in messaging for diverse campaigns can make each campaign easier, and can help union communications anticipate what the employer (or opponent) may say. (George Lakoff called this “framing”.) The messaging quadrant The [...]
Using Google Docs in your union campaign
by admin on 14. Jan, 2010 in Blog, Campaigning, Technology
Google Documents is a free online service that provides word processing and spreadsheets that are stored online (in the “cloud”). Google Docs basically allows you to mimic Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. The main feature (in my view) is that it is online, so it can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet, [...]
Seven ways for unions to use Twitter
by admin on 04. Aug, 2009 in Campaigning
Twitter is definitely one of the new cool things on the Internet – the epitome of “Web 2.0″. Unions have traditionally been slow in their uptake of new technology. A quick survey of many union websites show that they are seriously out of date (technology wise, if not their content). Many union leaders and officials [...]
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Lessons from the (Modern) Prince, Part 4: Understanding the Greens in Tasmania
12. Apr, 2010
- No Clean Feed campaign needs to drop their "censorship" obsession 06. Jan, 2010
- Alan Kohler shows he doesn't know about politics 04. Feb, 2010
- The Robin Hood Tax 26. Mar, 2010
- Seven ways for unions to use Twitter 04. Aug, 2009
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The Labor-Greens deal
01. Sep, 2010
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Blogging will recommence when the count is resolved
23. Aug, 2010
- Five articles I’m reading today 22. Aug, 2010
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Election Diary, day 35: Why I’m betting on Labor
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Good news for Tony Abbott: Off the deep end on climate change
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mark: Tony Abbott would like to pensioners and old austr...
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