What Is Organising? All campaigns need a solid base. That’s where organising comes in – it is the necessary first step before you can mobilise musicians, trade union members, music fans or the public in support. Last updated: 27 August 2025 What is organising? Organising is: Building union power in your workplace or music community Ensuring diverse voices are heard Recruiting new members Understanding workplace issues and how and when to raise them Attending union meetings and events Understanding which other unions are recognised in the workplace Knowing what training is available to build trade union skills. Understanding who you are organising and why, is the foundation of every successful campaign. Are you interested in workplace or community organising? Things to consider when starting out on organising your workplace or local music community include: Building a community - who would benefit from participating and how can you reach them? Do you know of other MU members / potential members in your workplace? Creating a space to come together - can you meet fellow members / potential members to share information easily? Consider accessibility; what can you do to make sure everyone can access this space? Keeping people up to date - how will you regularly update members / potential members on what’s happening in your patch, and share useful information to build a picture of shared issues across a workplace? Collaborating with other people affected - are there opportunities to work with others to build strong organising opportunities? Are there other people impacted by issues you could work with to resolve/campaign on? Building strength in numbers - can you reach out to colleagues in similar situations and encourage them to join the union? Solidarity in practice: equality, diversity and inclusion Whilst carrying out your organising duties, you will meet people who have concerns about issues that you may not experience yourself. Representing musicians from every section of society regardless of their ethnicity, sex, age, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic lies at the very heart of what we do. Being inclusive of every member only makes us stronger, helping the union to organise and ultimately to win. Explore how the union supports diverse members in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion hub. Is there an equality, diversity or inclusion topic that your workplace should be more aware of? Do you have access needs to support you on your organising journey? Contact your MU Regional Office to let the Union know. Learn more about organising and campaigning The Musicians’ Union Guide to Organising and Campaigning This guide is an introduction to what organising is, how it works, and what to do if you think you might have an issue in your workplace or local music community. Download the guide Organising: the foundation of a trade union Almost every employment right we have today - from maternity pay to minimum wage – was hard won by trade union members campaigning for better. Explore how organising relates to MU campaigns in this article from the 2024 edition of Amplify magazine or listen below The MU Organising Training Programme The MU has launched its first ever Organising Training Programme. The first three modules cover an introduction to trade unions, organising and campaigning, and are being rolled out to members where there is an urgent and strategic need. Find out more