Recently, a group of Efling Union members took an international course covering the fundamentals of union organizing. The online course gathered around 9,000 participants from over a hundred organizations worldwide, uniting in the struggle for workers’ rights.
The course, titled Organizing for Power: The Core Fundamentals, was specifically designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of the power of collective action and how to harness and strengthen it to achieve significant victories in the labor movement. It was based on the theories and experience of Jane McAlevey and her colleagues in labor organizing—a methodology that has repeatedly proven successful in securing major wins for workers when applied effectively.
The training covered essential theories on organizing, leadership, and how labor movements can drive real improvements in wages and working conditions. It also served as an excellent opportunity for participants to connect with fellow unionists from around the world, share experiences, and gain new ideas to strengthen Efling’s efforts.
By emphasizing and raising awareness of shared interests, empowerment, and effective organizing, participants learned how to take action to secure greater victories in workers’ struggles.
The Importance of Personal Connection
Þórir Jóhannesson, vice-chair of Efling, was among the participants and found the knowledge gained from the course invaluable, especially the practical tools for engaging union members in one-on-one conversations. “It is only natural that union members stand up for their rights and fight for their working conditions,” says Þórir about his key takeaway from the course.
Stella Suparman, an Efling member who attended the course, highlighted the importance of personal engagement when organizing. “I believe that personal connections and strong determination are key factors in organizing. I particularly remember the part where they discussed a hospital in the Netherlands. There were only two union members at first, but they had to organize meetings to reach 90% of the hospital staff in preparation for a strike within five weeks!
That sounds like an enormous challenge, especially since only 45% of the staff signed the initial petition. But the good news is that these union representatives managed to mobilize their colleagues and secure majority support for action. By mapping out social networks within each department and carefully structuring the organizing efforts, they succeeded in bringing people on board.”
Hlynur Gauti Ómarsson, a union representative and member of Efling’s board of trustees, said he took on his role to ensure that his coworkers understood what the union was fighting for and why they might need to strike. “This course showed me, as a union representative at my workplace, why we at Efling must use strikes as a tool. Those of us who attended learned when and how to use different strategies before reaching the point of a strike, but when that time comes, one thing is certain: WE ARE READY.”