Below find resources that accompany the Labor Notes' book Running for Local Union Office. If you have questions or are looking for other materials, email dan[at]labornotes[dot]org.
Sample Materials
- Sample Petition
- Sample Voter Pledge Card
- Request to Do Mailings
- Tips on Phone Banking
- Sample Phone Banking Script
- Instructions for Observers
- Sample Campaign Flyer
- Spreadsheet Template
Union Education Programs
Labor education courses can help prepare you and your team to lead the union. Here is a list of some labor education programs across the United States. Many now offer trainings online, too.
Department of Labor Resources
- Union Officer Elections: A Complainant's Guide
- How to File a Complaint with OLMS (the Office of Labor-Management Standards)
- Observer Rights and Responsibilities in Elections of Union Officers
- Conducting Local Union Officer Elections: A Guide for Election Officials
- Rights and Responsibilities Under the LMRDA and CSRA
- Electing Union Officers Using Remote Electronic Voting Systems (DOL guidance on electronic voting, 2024)
Labor Notes Resources
- Secrets of a Successful Flyer by Dan Lutz
- How to Lose Your Next Union Election: A Step-by-Step Guide by Dan Campbell
- Being Effective at Union Meetings (When the Officers Think They Own the Union) from Democracy Is Power
- The Caucus Runs for Office, chapter 4 from How to Jump-Start Your Union: Lessons from the Chicago Teachers
- a href=https://labornotes.org/subscribe>Labor Notes Magazine: Subscribe and get 11 issues a year for $30. Or get a bundle to share with your team.
Association for Union Democracy
- AUD website: Find resources on union members' democratic rights and more.
- Democratic Rights for Union Members: A Guide to Internal Union Democracy by Herman Benson. Unfortunately this book is currently out of print, but you can search for a used copy online or borrow an electronic version from the Internet Archive.
- Running for Convention Delegate
- Basic Democratic Rights of Rank and File Union Members
Other Labor Notes Books
- Secrets of a Successful Organizer
- Democracy Is Power: Rebuilding Unions from the Bottom Up
- Keep Going: A Guide to Organizing When It's Hard
- The Legal Rights of Union Stewards, Just Cause, No Contract, No Peace, and other guides from attorney Robert M. Schwartz
- Labor Notes Store: Find more books and merchandise to help put the movement back in the labor movement. Bulk discounts of up to 40 percent off available on books.