Mississauga

How to Hold the Line – and the Narrative: Lessons in Strike Communications from OPSEU Local 351 with Lorinda Seward

When Ontario’s college support staff went on strike, OPSEU Local 351 needed to mobilize members, control the message, and win community support – fast. With limited resources but a clear plan, the Local built a communications strategy that informed, inspired, and held the line – on the ground and online. This workshop will walk through OPSEU Local 351’s strike communications strategy from the inside: how roles were structured, messages coordinated, media managed, and solidarity built day by day. I’ll share templates, lessons learned, and the tools that helped our Local turn chaos into solidarity. Participants will leave with a replicable model for their own locals.

Storytelling in Organizing – The Path to Building Solidarity with Brian Chang

Marshall Ganz pioneered the idea of a public narrative – using stories to drive change. As a core part of organizing, and organizing well, public narrative isn’t just about you, it’s about developing you as a leader and inspiring others to come along. We’re all interesting, diverse, and valued people who are so much more than just the jobs we do or the offices we hold in the Union. We have an opportunity to use stories in driving all the work we do, from engaging email copy, compelling bargaining presentations, one-on-one conversations with members, and when this is paired with structured organizing conversations, it’s how we build and escalate all the way from signing a union card to wildcat walkouts.

Learn about this structured approach to storytelling that situates stories in a context of self, us, and now. We will help you bring a personal story forward, with the intention of sharing and asking something specific of the listeners.

We’ll think about different types of audiences and thinking about how we approach them. We’ll think about the ways we use stories to have structured organizing conversations. We’ll spend time on the process of emotional intelligence, how we use emotions and feelings in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social management. And we’ll share with one another, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Together, we’ll give you some key tools on getting started in putting your own public narrative together as we connect to our communities in authentic and meaningful ways.

Turning Laughter Into Action with Teagan Salter and Nathan Hare

Serious issues… funny campaigns? Humour has proven time and time again to resonate with the public and make them see what we’re facing in a new way. Teagan Salter and Nathan Hare will show you how to use humour and bold messaging to break through the noise in your campaigns.

Media Relations with Nora Loreto

Amp up your media relations work! This workshop by Nora Loreto will show you ways to get your message into the faces of your members and the public at large. Learn how to craft a compelling narrative and speak in such a way that your message rises above the fray!

Film, Edit, Mobilize: Smartphone Videography for Change with Anna Jover

Got a smartphone? Then you’ve got all you need to make some noise! In this 90min crash course, we’ll break down how to shoot quick, attention-grabbing videos (aka reels) that get members engaged and rally support. From filming tips to storytelling tricks, you’ll walk away ready to create video content that pops on social media—no fancy equipment or editing skills needed. Just bring your phone and let’s shake things up!

Canva: Tips, Tricks & Templates with Teuila Mau

Unions have rapidly moved to using Canva in their communications work, but are you using it its full capacity? In this workshop, delegates will learn all about Canva and, importantly, how to get the most out of your design work.