Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TIENetherlands en Networganisation
1876
the invention of the telephone
Graham Bell
by
T AC RE N IO
..President of the Unites States
Rutherford B. Hayes
who
but
Introduction
Globalisation links national economies all over the world causing destructive international crises on a
global scale. The financial crisis first occurred in the US in 2007and created extreme hardship for workers and workers organisations around the world. Highly organised large business groups have production and management units in more than one country. As a result they benefit from crises by creating competition and conflict among workers. This results in poor working conditions for the many employees working in such establishments. Therefore we need strong international solidarity among workers today. In this brochure, we will explain in what ways social media can be of use to help us reaching this goal.
OBJECTIVE
BROCHURE...
...is presenting various possibilities that social media offers and to build international networks among workers and unions activists. We hope that our information can strengthen daily union work in the nonvirtual world.
The selection of the various sorts of social media presented in the brochure is based on what is called the TIE Method. The central them in this method is strengthening the organisation of workers in their workplace and learning collectively. We hope that union members and activists can get various new ideas on how to use social media in their international union work by using our brochure. That is why we specifically looked at various sorts of social media tools we thought that are helpful to strengthen international solidarity. The key functions in this are: self-training, organisation and sharing knowledge. On the other hand, workers and activists can use these tools in their local solidarity networks, workplace committees and organising teams. There are several challenges to meet when using social media tools for international trade union puposes. For instance differences in languages and cultures. Knowing how to use online translation devices is therefore essential. Also to built stronger long distance ties and to maintain them, face to face video conferencing is an essential tool. However, there are serious security- and privacy risks involved. To avoid being tracked by employers, union busters, or government agents and to minimise the risks of control we need to take various measures. Besides going over the different possibilities social media has to offer, we will also take a look at privacy problems and their possible solution. Several measures can be taken. For example, we can use open sources or free software applications. These are not controlled by corporations and tend to respect the privacy of its users. When we use such tools in our union work, we have to be aware of these issues.
The list below includes several popular commercial tools for computers, tablets and smart phones. We also present some non-commercial alternatives for free and open source software. Considering the rapid development of social media, it is not possible to cover all possibilities. Therefore an interactive (wiki)version of this guide is available online via http://tie.wikia.com. We will add instructions and video tutorials to this online version explaining how to use the different tools and their specific functions. Wiki-pages are websites of which the content can be easily modified by visitors. This means that everyone is able to add his/her ideas or experiences to the online version of this brochure. 1. Go to the link: http://tie.wikia.com, 2. Press the edit button where you want to add/change something, 3. Make the changes you wish and click on save.
We tried our best to avoid technical language, yet this is not always possible when speaking of social media. Therefore you will find an explanation of all the technical terms used in this brochure at the end of this document. There is also a list of websites in this brochure where you can find more information on relevant tools.
Dutch unions are also active on popular social network sites. As an example they created an International Solidarity page on Facebook to links active members in international solidarity union projects. These tools operate in Dutch, linking Dutch unions and union members. If we want to engage colleagues from different countries we need to use multilingual global networking sites. International and national ties can be linked using our own national social network tools and combine it with international tools.
Facebook & Google+ are the two largest commercial international online social networking sites.
Facebook has over one billion active users (December 2012), more than half of which sign in on daily basis. Google + is a more recent service, but already has about 100 million users (December 2012). Considering their size and possible reach, Facebook and Google + can be very useful for unions i.e. to obtain transparency, subscribing new members and to run large scale public campaigns. Network sites are also powerful tools linking union members from different countries and building communication between workers at the base. These networks enable union members to spread knowledge amongst their own union and towards a wider audience. It can also be a capable strategy to use several parallel networks to increase the possible impact.
1. Go to http://www.facebook.com or https://plus.google.com to create a Facebook or Google+ account as described above 2. Handle your privacy settings carefully, allow only your friends to see your personal details. 3. Use the search bar to look for and connect with your friends and colleagues. 4. Check your friends friends list or their circles to see who is there whom you would like to connect with 5. Search the name of your union and connect with the people you might know already.
Users of different languages can communicate on Facebook and Google +. The social pages combine services such as email, SMS, chat, video and audio-calls and micro-blogging. Such features enable users who speak different languages to keep in touch through sharing photos, videos, and other information. On Facebook it is
possible to view the translation of any shared text on the active page. When your friends on Facebook like, share, or comment your actions is seen across the networks of others. Google + has comparable functions, i.e., giving +1 to items shard by others. Relatively safer and more efficient ways to realise a sustained international exchange among union activists can be a closed work groups or pages on Facebook or Google +. Add or invite peers and colleagues to join the group or to like the page you created for sharing relevant and non-risky information. You can also create an event to schedule a meeting and invite others, or to just spread information.
in 2008 and conceived as an alternative to Facebook for union workers. Through the years it became a congregation point for more than five thousand unionists, members, labour activists and academics from all over the world. Register to the site to register for a UnionBook account. UnionBook is a good alternative to Facebook and Google +, if you want to contact other unionists working in your sector. It is also a complementary tool to the international exchange activities of your union. It is usefull for keeping in touch with your colleagues globally and you can link up with other unionists and let them know what you are doing. Already there are more than 200 workgroups on UnionBook to which you can subscribe. Its possible to set up a workgroup for your own network and share information. If you have set up an open group, on the main page of UnionBook, all other UnionBook members can see what is being shared in the group. You can share photos, music, video and post blog items by using the various functions UnionBook has to offer. This way, UnionBook is the missing link in the currently globalising unions movement. The business model and privacy policy of Facebook and Google + is very problematic for union members and activists. Facebook collects all possible data about their users and sells this information to any interested third parties. Facebook observes, keeps records, classifies and sells information like telephone numbers, conversations, content, shared files, visited sites, current location and all range of activity of its users. The current value of Facebook is estimated 100 billion US Dollars. This figure indicates the value of information regarding its users. Google recently adopted a new privacy and surveillance policy that also bears serious threats for union members and activists. Using such tools without being alert and cautious of what we are sharing and doing online would mean taking serious risks for all, but especially for those workers and activists involved in online exchange. There are several comparable private networking tools on the Internet, such as MySpace, Hyves and Orkut. However, the safest options for unionists are to use free and open source alternatives such as Diaspora, N-1, and Crabgrass. You can find detailed information on these tools on the online version of this brochure.
1. Go to http://unionbook.org and register Unionbook to create a profile for yourself 2. Create a Group on Unionbook for your network and invite people from your network to join this group 3. Invite your colleagues to join Unionbook and your Unionbook group 4. Share your thoughts, ideas, or information about your union activities on your Unionbook group and profile
Email lists allow members of the solidarity network to send emails to all group members at once
1. Collect the email addresses of the participants of the solidarity project you involved 2. Go to http://groups.gmail.com and create a Gmail Group 3. Add email addresses of your friends to the Group and start with sending a test email 4. Use Google Translator or Gmail translation function to translate your emails 5. Use your group to share information, plan and schedule your collective activities
Although they became old fashioned, mailing lists and discussion groups still play an important role in building international communication channels. They are useful to connect individuals from different countries on a daily basis. Besides this mailing lists are re-valued now smart phones users have direct access to internet and therefore to mailing accounts. Mailing lists can be complementary to online social networks. They are very useful to share large-scale and private information that you dont like to post on a social network page for example. Union members meeting for the first time to discuss an international project, often exchange email addresses. By creating a mailing list on Yahoo, Gmail or on a secure server, they can start communicating immediately after the meeting. In order to do so one just needs to register to Yahoo or Gmail and get an email address from a Yahoo or Gmail Group. Then login to Yahoo or Gmail, go to Groups page and click on Start your group or Create Group. First you choose a category for your email group and then write a short description for the group. Next you chose which email address you want to use when managing the list. Administrators of such list will be able to add colleagues email addresses to the list or delete them, or he/she can invite colleagues to join in. An email list allows members of a solidarity network to send emails to all the group members at once.
Cybermeetings en Webinars
these tools, union activists or workers in different countries can exchange information on a regular basis. Using these tools union activists or workers from work places located in different countries form regular study and exchange groups. In such groups they learn from each other in a systematic way, by mapping; comparing work place situations and understanding the conditions in different plants of any company. It is possible to develop common strategies and coordinate solidarity activities with unionists from other coun-
Tools voor
Web-conferencing or webinar are tools to organise online meetings through the Internet. Using
tries.This can be done on a personal computer at home, at the unions office, at an internet caf or on a mobile device. One can organise meetings without having to travel to another country. Skype is one of the best known real-time online conference tools. You can download it on the Internet and use it for free. It is very easy to install Skype and it works with all operating systems running on a PC, Mac, smart phone or tablet. After the installation you create an account by choosing a Skype name and password to start. You need these to login Skype. To make calls you also need a set of tools like speakers or headphones, a microphone and a camera. Skype combines several functions that can be used to have online meetings. Youre able to make free Skype-to-Skype audio or video calls, call land lines, make video or teleconference calls at minimal costs. Skype also offers SMS, real-time chat and fax capacity, and file and screen sharing. Using these functions, activists are able to organise international trainings, seminars, workshops and strategy meetings. Also you can download Apps, such as Skype call recorder, white board, or real-time chat translation. You can do this by clicking on Apps. You can find the Get Apps button underneath the Conversations option. If you run these Apps when you are logged in on Skype, they function as an expansion of Skype. This happens automatically. With screen sharing and white board you can create power point presentations and collective drawings; work on an agenda or map together or share what you see on your desktop screen with others during the call. The chat function can be used to ask to speak, pass information or to keep record of the proceedings. Video and teleconferences can also be recorded and saved for later use. Real-time Chat translation allows activists who cannot speak each others languages to communicate at a very basic level. Skype works in major languages only. Not all participants will be able to use the program in their own languages. Therefore interpreters can be added to calls, via a computer, tablet or smart-phone running Skype, or via a landline without Internet. The person at the other end does not always need to be on Skype, nor have a computer. Calls to landlines are cheap, although not free (1 cent/min.). This allows including participants with slower internet connection joining in meetings from any telephone at a low cost (billed to caller). The other option is having interpreters in a physical space where one or some of particular participants are based. You can download and use Skype on your smart phone. If you have an internet connection, Skype enables you to join in any call or meeting for free wherever you are. Google Talks, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger can be used as alternatives to Skype. BigBlueButton is a free and open source version of commercial online seminar tools such as AnyMeeting. It is free to download and to use. BigBlueButton works on Mac, UNIX, FOSS operating systems and Android phones. It does not support Windows. AnyMeeting works also on Windows and does not need any additional program to run.
1. Create a Skype or AnyMeeting account for yourself and invite people in your email group, or Facebook or Google+ friends to do the same 2. Have several experimenting meetings with local colleagues on Skype or AnyMeeting and then try to arrange bilingual meetings with colleagues from another country 3. Use your email list or social network links to schedule and plan these meetings 4. Keep records of proceedings and save the meetings for later evaluation and reporting
BigBlueButton is designed by university software developers, originally for long distance higher education. AnyMeeting is designed for the market, for instance to organise board meetings or trainings. Such tools could be very powerful in the hands of union members at the work floor. Both tools bring most of the features we mentioned together on one page only. Multiple users can share their web-cams at the same time. There is no built-in limit on the number of simultaneously active web-cams on BigBlueButton. With the free version of AnyMeeting, 200 participants is the limit. Both systems support voice conferencing. Participants need speakers or headphones, cameras and microphones to join in meetings. It is possible to record meetings (slides + audio + chat) for later uses. For AnyMeeting it is also possible to schedule a meeting and send emails to invite people or to remind people of the meeting. Participants can join in on a call or a meeting via land line or mobile phone. Both kinds of software allows broadcasting desktop screens, upload PDF presentations, share office documents and to use the zoom function. During a BigBlueButton meeting you can use the whiteboard function to make notes. Participants can digitally raise their hands to ask for their turn. Skype and other commercial tools contain several risks for union members and activists. It is not recommended to use these tools when collaborating with colleagues from repressed countries. Be careful when using these instruments. Use nick names for example, avoid sharing risky information and use simple encryption. BigBlueButton is not privately owned and it can run only on Mac, UNIX, and open source and free operating systems. This makes it safer for union activities. There are several alternatives to BigBlueButton and AnyMeeting. There are Yugma, WebEx, Freebinar, Vyew, Mikago, Dim Dim, Fuze Meeting, GoToMeeting, Open Meetings, and Zoho.
Production Mapping is a method through which employees collectively gather knowledge about
1. Before the meeting everyone should be signed in at Skype and be online. They need to be available for calls. The host of the particular meeting should start calling people to join the meeting one by one. After the meeting has begun, the participants should shortly introduce themselves 2. During the meeting participants can share any information they have collected from their respective workplaces by sending photos, videos etc. The meeting can start with a short presentation using apps of screen share or white board (to be downloaded as described above). Local maps can be displayed for others or a new map comparing any plants concerned (global chain) can be drawn collectively.
Bottom-up publishing
Micro-blogging is also seen as the SMS of the Internet. Blogging as well as micro-blogging can be
used by union activists to spread information about events in their workplaces or experiences in international solidarity networks. Blogging or micro-blogging can disseminate the results of solidarity projects, can share news and can spread records of proceedings in local networks.
The distinction between blogs and websites is less evident since the existence of tools such as WordPress, Joomla, and Blogger etc. These programs make it easier to build and manage websites without advanced computer skills. Anyone with an account can use the dashboard or control panel to add posts, polls, forms, chat facilities, news-feeds, forums and can even change the way the blog looks, once he/she attained an admin role. WordPress is an open source free software. The blog is the most flexible and innovative one of all. With WordPress, it is possible to create a section of the website that can be managed by users in possession of the password only. This enables the possibility to have private discussions. It is also possible to link your blog to your social network accounts. In this way, whenever you post something new on your blog it will be directed to any other network account you are linked to.
1. Go to http://www.wordpress.com and start a test blog by clicking Start a Blog. 2. Choose a name for your blog and work on its design using the dashboard. 3. Write or collect texts, photos or videos about your activities and post them on your blog 4. Connect your blog to your accounts on Facebook and Twitter so your posts are directed to those sites as well.
Twitter is an online micro-blogging service that enables users sending and reading text-based posts of
up to 140 characters known as tweets. Twitter was created in 2006 and rapidly gained worldwide popularity. By the end of 2011, over 300 million users generated 300 million tweets a day with an average of 1.6 billion search queries. Twitter does not require downloading any software. One simply need to register to a Twitter website. Using Twitter-like tools we are able to share information on the spot, which makes it a potentially large independent news channel for activists. Use hashtags to cover certain events or negotiations and communicate on campaigns and activities to colleagues. This way collegues in other countries as well as people in our local networks are up to date. It is also possible to send and receive text SMS via Twitter. Other micro-blogging tools are: Friendfeed, Identi.ca, and Thimbl. Identi.ca is an open source tool. Thimbl is freely distributed software and makes it the safest option.
1. Go to http://twitter.com, create a Twitter account and invite people in your network to do the same. 2. Search for your union, colleagues and friends, and follow them 3. Check the followers and following lists of the people you follow to extend your network 4. Write short texts about your union activities and tweet them on your profile, re-tweet the tweets you find interesting and want to spread
Go to http://www.ortsbo.com and follow the instructions to link your Facebook chat with Ortsbo online trans-
Go to http://translate.google.com/ and translate your emails in any language. Cut the email text and paste it on the first box, choose the languages for the original text and your language for the second box on the right, then click translate.
be done via computers, land lines, ordinary mobile phones, smart phones or tablets. When planned well, it is possible to have a conversation in three or four languages. Yet it is wise to form bilingual groups to decrease the level of complexity. Union experts or executives can help finding interpreters.
We must balance openness, connectivity and safety when working with online tools.
The degree of protection or security needed is different in each country, in each sector and even in the different workplaces. But we might not need an equal degree of openness at every level of networking. It is important to stay on the safe side and consider all the possibilities. In any case, it is necessary to be aware of the legal context of a country, of our own rights and those of our colleagues. Also, it is important to realise what it is exactly that we want to achieve with the used tools. We must use nicknames and fake accounts when security is incertain. We must avoid sharing any sensitive information that can give away our or our colleagues real identities. We can use simplified language and replace names of worplaces, cities, etc.
1. In case of high risk, use nick names when creating accounts and profiles 2. Learn about free and open source software and prefer to use these kind of tools 3. Do not share important or sensitive information publicly online 4. Make sure that you handled your Privacy Settings carefully and consciously
Example
international gathering in Turkey. The gathering was organised by TIE-Netherlands and a partner organisation from Turkey. Around 200 young unionists and work-floor activists came together to network and exchange their experiences. Other participants were from Russia, Belarus, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey. The example below is constructed based on the real experiences we had during and after this gathering.
During the meetings and workshops interpreters translated five different languages. Bilingual exchange groups were formed in which one interpreter facilitated the communication. During the brakes interpreters rested. English speaking participants helped others to communicate. There were cases in which participants could engage in conversations about various topics including their union work without sharing a common language but instead using Google Translator. After the event, names, telephone numbers, and email addresses were exchanged. From this gathering a solidarity group emerged in order to build a campaign to support the UPS workers resisting in Izmir. The Dutch group launched a local campaign back in the Netherlands. Relationships were developed via Internet and mobile phones. Brazilian, Dutch, Russian, Turkish and Belarusian colleagues formed a Facebook group. They decided to use Ortsbo to chat. Facebooks own translation function helped them to maintain basic communication to stay in touch as well as traditional tools like emails and SMS. They formed a Google Group and added all the email addresses to form a mailing list. This way a sustainable communication channel for the network could be maintained. For the translation of emails they used Google Translator. Some of the workers for automobile factories in Russia, Belarus and Brazil decided to develop closer communication by creating a space for systematic information exchange. They wanted to share information they gained through exchanges on the local level with friends at factories and with their unions. The Russians, Belarusians and Brazilians did not speak each others languages which was a barrier to be overcome in their communication. It was an advantage however that Belarusian and Russian colleagues could communicate in Russian.
Using Facebook and an email list they agreed to organise Skype meetings to talk face to face. They created Skype accounts and added each other to their contact lists. Since the regimes in Russia and Belarus were oppressive, colleagues from these countries decided to use nicknames when opening their Skype accounts. They all downloaded Clown Fish and used it on Skype for chat translation. They used cameras and microphones to be able to have voice and video conferences. The basic bilingual group was formed and it was ready to organise regular meetings. As a next step they set up an discussion agenda. Next they scheduled a meeting after taking into account the differences between local time in the different countries. And they invited someone to interpret between Russian and Portuguese during the calls. This person was a Portuguese linguistic student living in the US. They called him before the meeting. The call was made over a land line, this way it did not cost him anything. During the meetings participants made notes of conversations and there was someone keeping the records of proceedings. After several experimental meetings real meetings were set up. The group formed a blog and posted these results on the blog whenever important results came up and these were needed to be shared and spread,. They linked the blog to their Facebook and Twitter accounts so that the information could be spread within their local networks as well. They made sure that neither Russian and Belarusian governments nor the employers could identify individuals and learn about the process.
Keywords
App Short for Application Software Download Hardware Installation LogIn/Signin Open Source Register/Signup Software Upload Webinar Receiving files from the Internet into your computer Hard and material parts of the tools and devices we use Putting software or hardware on your computer Confirming your user name and password to start a program Software of which source code is open to all other computer programmers use Opening an account on any service providing software Computer program written with special algorithms called code Sending files from your computer to internet Online seminar
IRC A protocol for real-time internet text messaging (Instand Relay Chat).
Links
Online sociale netwerken van FNV: FNV Panel Mijn FNV B Job Circle FNV Bouw Vakbond 3.0 FNV Opdebouwplaats Abvakabo Virtueel Kantoor FNV IS groep op Facebook https://www.fnvpanel.nl https://www.fnvbondgenoten.nl/lidmaatschap/mijn_fnv/online_profiel http://www.jobcircle.nl http://bouw.fnv.net/activity http://opdebouwplaats.fnv.net http://abvakabo.wboffice.nl/office/info/? http://www.facebook.com/groups/125057527563370
Email lists
Yahoo Groups Google Groups http://groups.yahoo.com https://groups.google.com
Web Conferencing
Skype Google Talks MSN Messenger Yahoo Messenger http://www.skype.com http://www.google.com/talk http://explore.live.com/messenger http://messenger.yahoo.com
Webinars
Skype BigBlueButton AnyMeeting Yugma Freebinar Vyew Mikago Dim Dim Fuze Meeting GoToMeeting Open Meetings Zoho http://www.skype.com http://www.bigbluebutton.org http://www.anymeeting.com https://www.yugma.com http://www.freebinar.com http://vyew.com http://www.mikogo.com http://www.dimdim.com http://www.fuzemeeting.com http://www.gotomeeting.com http://www.openmeetings.de http://www.zoho.com/meeting
Blogging
Wordpress Blogger Squarespace TypePad Joomla http://www.wordpress.com http://www.blogger.com http://www.squarespace.com http://www.typepad.com http://www.joomla.org
Micro-blogging
Twitter Friendsfeed Identica Thimbl http://twitter.com http://friendfeed.com http://identi.ca http://www.thimbl.net
Chat Translation
Clown Fish Google Translator Ortsbo http://clownfish-translator.com/ http://translate.google.com/ http://www.ortsbo.com/
Colloborative Pads
Pirate Pad Titan Pad Ether Pad http:/piratepad.net http:/titanpad.com http:/etherpad.org
Media sharing
YouTube Vimeo Flickr Picasa Turtle http://www.youtube.com http://vimeo.com http://www.flickr.com https://picasaweb.google.com http://www.turtle4privacy.org/new
Live streaming
Bambuser Ustream http:/bambuser.com www.ustream.tv Livestream www.livestream.com
Online-wiki-version
http://tie.wikia.com
Colofon
Prepared for TIE-Netherlands by Networganisation
Translation: Design: Tessa Marsman Sanne van den Berge
TIE-Netherlands
www.tie-netherlands.nl Contact: Email: Adress: Website: Marten van den Berge marten@tie-netherlands.nl Marius van Bouwdijk
mei 2012
Amsterdam
Networganisation
networg.wordpress.com Contact: Email: rsan enalp networg@cyberservices.com