Any tactic can be adjusted to involve workers.
An example of a non-collective tactic is a shareholder resolution presented by a small number of union leaders who can attend the shareholders’ meeting.
To make the tactic collective, you might create a petition signed by workers and allies with wording based on the shareholder resolution. You could deliver the workers’ petition at the shareholders meeting. Workers could wear a badge at the workplace the same day, or put up posters around the workplace. Prior to all of this you could run an education campaign in the workplace about who the shareholders are and why they are important.
Small actions can become large when carried out collectively. For example, the collective tapping of pencils in a meeting shows unity and determination and can be used to shut down a meeting.
When you have planned collective tactics, you can supplement these with tactics that are not collective such as billboards, airplane message trailers, signs on public benches or walls, or news media coverage.
When possible, go outside the experience of the target in a manner that they are not expecting. With an element of surprise, the target may have a harder time countering your actions.
When you use unexpected tactics, you will want to put extra effort into keeping your relationships with your opponents intact. You want them to know that you are rational and willing to talk about resolving the problems. Give your target opportunities to meet in order to keep the dialogue open. Always make sure that there is a reasonable solution that will resolve the problem, and that this solution is clearly communicated to your opponent and the public.
A carefully planned warning to the target that does not undermine your tactic can be effective. For example, if your group is large and you can stage an important hearing or event, you might want to let the employer know ahead of time that a small group of citizens will be attending.
When you are pressuring an indirect target, you will need to make sure that both your key demands and the name of your direct target is always clearly communicated. Otherwise your allies, the public and even the direct and indirect targets could become confused.
For example, if you are leafleting a grocery market, your leaflet will focus mainly on what grocery market customers care most about – high prices, poor quality of products, even though your goal is to improve working conditions for the truckers that deliver goods to the market. On your leaflet, you will need to include the name of your direct target (the head of the trucking company) and your campaign goals for improved conditions for truckers.
The large print on the leaflet might say something like:
HIGH prices at Grocery Store X
You might include information about another store with lower prices for some common items.
In smaller letters at the bottom of the leaflet, include information on the indirect and direct targets and the campaign demands:
We are here today protesting high prices. In addition to charging high prices, Grocery Store X uses International Trucking Company for their deliveries. International Trucking Company Drivers work long hours, causing fatigue and unsafe road conditions in our community.
You may want to show your leaflet to Grocery Store X ahead of time, giving them an opportunity to sign on to your demands for safer conditions at International Trucking Company, or agree to discuss the issues with the trucking company.
Never stop!
Plan enough creative tactics so that you will always be able to keep your campaign active and moving forward. You want the target to know that you will never stop, and the actions will keep increasing in impact.
Make sure your tactics focus on your targets. Stick with your chosen target long enough to make a serious impact or satisfy your demands. Stick to your strategy. Switching back and forth between targets and strategies can lessen your power.