23. Community

23.1 Describe the company’s community relations.
23.2 Are there community issues with the company and its operations?
23.3 List any identifiable community organizations that could be enlisted as allies.
23.4 What are the major unions and central labor bodies in the communities where both the company and the parent company are located (both here and abroad), and how could they be used as allies in the campaign?

Firms are located in com­mu­ni­ties and their impact goes far beyond work­ers in their facil­i­ties. Here it is important to identify both support for, and opposition to, your target firm. Com­mu­nity allies are often fun­da­men­tal in build­ing com­pre­hen­sive campaigns. In the strike by the Chicago teachers the support of parents and the larger community was a key element in their victory.

Workers are the best source for community issues. A general news search and a search of social media may provide additional information.

The AFL-CIO and Change to Win provide links to labor organizations. Jobs with Justice will put you in touch with local labor activists.

Mapping the Common Good provides a map of union contract expirations across the United States, which can help organizers coordinate a campaign with community groups.