Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs

Practical suggestions and how-tos for @ucu strike action 2022. Not purely about placard sticks. Relentlessly chirpy. Tweets by @JamesBSumner. Not a @ucu account

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Strike Handbook (pdf) with advice on picketing, demos, comms, inclusion and more: https://t.co/YT9pa5LRUu

Strike Map with links to branch sites, hardship fund info etc: https://t.co/XrhQs2zXxi

List of old @PlacardSticks threads (inc the armband fix!): https://t.co/L2JFmU4WaI

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

THREAD GUIDE 1/2

Actual placard sticks https://t.co/1XqgSCaL7I
Sharing comms https://t.co/ZWfv7i4R1R
Dark and rainy picketing https://t.co/cjWpzrt1F8
Inclusivity https://t.co/bnbsTvHzVk
Photo opportunities https://t.co/ZLvvbEQzkY
Armband fix https://t.co/m0LAP8cI55
#UCUstrike

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Giant ticket placards! These are great. Immediately clear from a distance what they're about, and they photograph nicely so they'll get media – they'll also take a fairly complex slogan in block letters without looking wordy. #SupportRailWorkers
https://t.co/sDwDH17nxg

[Suki Sangha @sukisangh]

Today we’re showing @RMT_Scotland members our solidarity with their strike action. This action is about all of us. It’s about our safety, our public services, our right to strike and workers’ power to organise and win for their class. Victory to the @RMTunion #SupportRailWorkers

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Good comms approach. And excellent banner game.

[Occupy Leeds Uni @OccupyLeedsUni]

Since senior management won’t talk to us we are branching out a little to call for dialogue. We’re also playing some of the audio recordings we’ve been sent in to share the stories of those directly affected by these working conditions. Please send us you stories

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

MULTILINGUAL "WE ARE ON STRIKE" PLACARD

From an idea by @anna_translata with help from numerous international language-users. Good for graduations and other events with global audiences. Source file for editing (MS Word): https://t.co/YLdxIBLR6L

Photo by @UM_UCU.

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

SOLIDARITY SASHES

The dispute's hottest trend, started by @ucuedinburgh and now picked up by @UM_UCU for Manchester's current catch-up graduation sessions.

We paid £275 for 100 custom-printed sashes inc delivery from https://t.co/TqMLy2KStm (other sashmongers are available).

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

@Chris_A_W Sometimes you really do have to make a stand.

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

@sjsbunchberry @ucuedinburgh ...ah, actually I can't – your DMs aren't open. Could you follow me?

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

@ucuedinburgh Hi there! Quick question if you have a moment: how many of these did you get printed up, and who did you use? Asking because of a thing... https://t.co/x9FNp5oGxF

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

@sjsbunchberry @ucuedinburgh Brilliant, thanks – will do! And thanks @ucuedinburgh for putting us in contact!

[Heriot-Watt UCU @UCU_HWUBranch]

Yes. It's that time again
Ballot incoming.

Want to know Votey McVotes top tips for getting over the line? Sure you do.

@UCUScotland @ucu_solidarity @PlacardSticks @GooseSolidarity @LeotheLawSchoo1 @StrathclydeUCU @ucu @USSbriefs

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Top tip: always be thinking about the strengths and weaknesses of your comms approach.

It's often worth finding a more efficient method.

And sometimes, just sometimes, it's worth finding a less efficient method...

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Excellent banner: https://t.co/EmTgpP9gyJ

(Bonus points for not cutting wind vent holes. Despite what diehard hole fans will tell you, the reduction in wind load is negligible compared to the likelihood of creating tear points. If you want to be windproof, get a mesh banner.)

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Note here the LEAFLETS TARGETED TO DIFFERENT AUDIENCES. This is a nicely chosen range to cover the major bases.

...plus, of course, the sandwich bags. Also sold as freezer bags. *Definitely* get the kind with a zip. A bit pricey, but very much worth it.
https://t.co/B0zjBQ93bs

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Excellent @PlacardSticks-approved tips from Embra here, starting in textbook fashion with a focus on waterproofing:

(If you don't have access to an A2 laminator, carpet protector roll is reckoned to be a good alternative for the money:
https://t.co/OAgaFSWe9U)

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

On the value of mobilising support by finding one or two volunteers in each local group (department, etc) to sign up names locally. An increasingly well-known lesson, but it bears repeating.

[Dr. Chris A Williams, FRHS @OU_Williams]

New short clip from our @oubucu online rallies: Taylor Hughson of #Justice4CollegeSupervisors and @CambridgeUCU talks about the lessons learned about organising in the fight against precarity. https://t.co/S8icgaufpH

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Top tip: if they threaten to call the Police, retaliate by threatening to call UB40, who were at least at some level proper reggae, and are (provided you're not blocking the traffic or smashing things) about as likely to want to involve themselves.

[Keele UCU @KeeleUCU]

🚨 Keele Security have threatened to call the police on us today because we... crossed a road? Had a sing song? We honestly have no idea. Anyone there this morning have any ideas? #OneOfUsAllOfUs

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

HONK FOR FAIR PENSIONS placard using the cheat: https://t.co/MtyJ7RmcGD
4 sheets of A4 landscape, cardboard backing, waterproofed with sticky-back, edged w gaffer tape and velcroed to a flat pole.

Could use more drop shadow and the word PENSIONS is annoyingly long, but it'll do

[Open University UCU @oubucu]

Greetings from Manchester
#UCUstrike #OneOfUsAllOfUs #oufamily

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

A #DogsOnPicketLines triumph (ht @EmmaKEdDev)

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

PICKETING IN HIGH WINDS

Alan is correct. Listen to Alan, people:

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Look at this one, folks!

This is a triumph not only of banner-making, but of banner-positioning. https://t.co/doFgPlRxe7

[Craig Brandist @BrandistCraig]

Students understand they are suffering from the same policies as staff & are now occupying 2 buildings at UoS in #Solidarity with striking @sheffielducu staff. Celebrate: our students are critical thinkers not dumb consumers. #OneOfUsAllOfUs #SaveSheffieldArchaeology

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

Banner tip: big, bold lettering, always. Fill the space. Draw guide lines (metal tape measure?) and rough out the letters in pencil, then fill with paint. Multi-person job.

Here is a student solidarity protest making very solid use of solid colour: https://t.co/QgVPouJZSi #solid

[Sheffield Action Group @sheffaction]

🚨 WE HAVE OCCUPIED HICKS!

There are now two UoS buildings occupied in solidarity with the @ucu strikes.

#SaveSheffieldArchaeology

[Placard Stick Tips #OneOfUsAllOfUs @PlacardSticks]

PICKET GOAT KLAXON

[Prof Helen Foxhall Forbes 🇪🇺🕯🌻🌈 @HFoxhallForbes]

On the picket line this morning outside History - with surprise appearance from Colin the goat