Environmental & Economic Justice Project Power Analysis Training

1. Slide 1 Purpose of Power Analysis 1. Understand how & by whom power is exercised to cause and maintain problems & conditions we seek to change 2. Develop effective strategies for: • Winning campaigns, increasing density, furthering economic justice • Permanently altering power relationships in favor of working class • Creating more strategic organizing plans • Creating more strategic campaign plans • Connecting short term strategies to LONG TERM goals Environmental & Economic Justice Project Power Analysis Training

2. Slide 2 Basic Assumptions of Power • Power relationships are unequal right now and this is key cause of the problem situation we are trying to solve or change. • 2. We have to develop strategies to address this inequality in power. • 3. A more systematic way of understanding power and how it is exercised is necessary to organize more workers, change labor laws, and create substantial wins for the working class. Environmental & Economic Justice Project Power Analysis Training

3. Slide 3 Types of Power Analysis: Strategic Power Analysis: Analysis of the landscape of a defined region including key problems-conditions, decision-makers, major battles, primary opposition forces, organized progressive forces (actual/potential), and important unorganized social groups. Campaign Power Analysis:Analysis of decision-making targets, key battles, organized opposition, organized support, unorganized social groups for specific issue campaigns. Corporate Power Analysis: Analysis of entire specific corporation, stock holders, finances, lawsuits, political donations, etc

4. Slide 4 Steps in a Strategic Power Analysis Steps Affordable housing on the decline, housing that is being built is non-union and high-end housing 1. Define the major issue or problem Our agenda: Better and more affordable housing, union-built housing, rent control, increased spending on housing programs Their agenda: high-end housing development, non union development, cut spending on housing programs, privatize county housing workers 2. Define the competing agendas surrounding this problem 3.Identify the major decision makers State House, City Council, Housing Development Board 4. Sketch the major issue or policy battles related to our major issue/problem Zoning battles over affordable housing, rent control fight, ongoing demolition of subsidized housing units

5. Slide 5 Steps in a Strategic Power Analysis Continued 5. Identify the organized opposition Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, Contractors’ Association, Lower Taxes Now! (anti-tax group) 6. Identify the organized pro-union groups, allies and potential allies Labor Council, Building Trades Council, Housing for the Homeless, County Housing Workers (AFSCME)……… 7. Identify key sectors or groups that are not part of organizations (also include a population demographics) Tenants of low income housing about to be demolished, We are 28% Black, 49% White and 20% Latino (any race), 6% Southeast Asian 8. Analyze the picture, create strategies for changing the equation.

6. Slide 6 Steps in a Strategic Power Analysis 1. Define the major issue or problem 2. Define the competing agendas surrounding this problem 3. Identify the major decision makers 4. Sketch the major issue or policy battles related to our major issue/problem 5. Identify the organized opposition 6. Identify the organized pro-union groups, allies and potential allies 7. Identify key sectors or groups that are not part of organizations (and demographics of population) 8. Analyze the picture, create strategies for changing the equation.

7. Slide 7 POWER ANALYSIS GRID Union-built affordable housing, public sector housing, rent control Competing Agenda, Positions, Policies Housing program cuts, demolish current units, non-union construction, privatization 10 Decisive Decision making Power or Influence 8 Active Participant in Decision-making Amount of Power 6 Power to have Major Influence on decision-making 4 Taken into Account Position or Perspective on competing Agendas 3 Key unorganized social sectors Can Get Attention 2 Die Hard Active Support Inclined Towards Inclined Towards Active Support Die Hard Not on Radar City Council Chamber of Commerce Union Locals, Labor Councils, & Grassroots Organizations Environmental & Economic Justice Project Power Analysis Training

8. Slide 8 STEPS TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC POWER ANALYSIS STEP 2:Sketch the Competing Agendas. The agenda of those who are causing or perpetuating the problems, and your agenda (the conditions you want to bring about) 10 STEP 1:Define the major Problems or Conditions which are negatively impacting primary constituencies Decisive Decision making Power or Influence STEP 3:Sketch the major centers of Decision-makers over the problem conditions 8 Board of Supervisors Active Participant in Decision-making State Legislature City Council STEP 4:Sketch Major Issue/Policy Battles related to problem conditions which are going on STEP 5:Sketch major organized Opposition 6 Power to have Major Influence decision-making 4 Taken into Account 3 Can Get Attention STEP 6:Sketch Organized Progressive Groups STEP 7:Sketch key unorganized social sectors 2 Die Hard Active Support Inclined Towards Inclined Towards Active Support Die Hard Not on Radar STEP 8:Analyze the picture, develop strategies for changing the equation Environmental & Economic Justice Project Power Analysis Training

9. Slide 9 Strategies for Changing the Equation 1. Increasing Our Power Organizing- increasing our numbers Mobilizing our base- turning out our members Building stronger alliances Developing our leadership Using creative and escalating tactics 2. Countering/Neutralizing the Power of Our Opponents Exposing their vulnerabilities Using secondary targets- finding people who can influence our opponents and applying pressure through them