Buffalo Newspaper Guild Home Page

Leafleting Procedures

Leafleting is a perfectly legal expression of your First Amendment rights, and your rights as union members. It is considered protected activity under the National Labor Relations Act, and employers cannot lawfully punish employees who participate in protected activities. However, some guidelines must be observed:

1) Work individually or in small groups. When leafleting a building, one person on either side of the door is sufficient. Do not walk up and down in front of the building or give the impression that you are trying to block access to or from the building. Do not block driveways.

2) When leafleting, simply approach people, hand them a flyer and politely ask them to read it. If people ask questions, tell them the leaflet speaks for itself. Do not get into lengthy discussions with people or attempt to convince a reluctant person to accept a leaflet. If someone has a specific question that you cannot answer, refer them to a union officer.

3) If members of the (working) press approach you to ask questions, refer them to a union officer.

4) In the event that police or security guards show up, refer them to a union officer. If they order you to move or stop leafleting, follow their orders, but inform a union officer immediately so we can enforce our right to leaflet.

5) Remember to smile, be courteous and say "thank you" frequently. Have fun. Know that every leaflet you distribute brings you one step closer to achieving a good contract.

GO BILLS!
GO GUILD!

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