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mCommons messagingCase study · Labor union · Austin, Texas

How AFSCME Local 1624 rallied 200+ members to save remote work

AFSCME Local 1624 represents about 3,000 City of Austin employees. When the city's remote work policy, covering about 6,000 employees, came under threat, the local had to act quickly. Texts written with our mobile strategists filled the streets around City Hall.

Published by the Mobile Commons Strategy and Insights team

200+activists at the Rally to Save Telework
3,000members represented
6,000employees whose remote work was protected

01The challenge

The challenge: protecting a remote work policy for 6,000 city employees

A remote work policy under threat, and little time.

AFSCME Local 1624 represents occupations from nurses and social workers to law enforcement and sanitation workers. When the city moved to remove its remote work policy, the local needed members at City Hall, fast.

Who the policy covered
AFSCME 1624 membersAbout 3,000
City of Austin employeesAbout 6,000

People affected by the remote work policy.

02What changed

The fix: union text messages that built urgency and turnout

Organizers and strategists wrote the campaign together.

Organizers Mando Flores and Krissy O'Brien worked with our mobile strategists on a series of texts that made the urgency clear, showed what the policy meant for members' lives, and asked them to show up.

Within hours of the first messages, hundreds of activists had pledged to join the rally.

How the texts built turnout
  1. 1UrgencyExplain what is at risk, and when
  2. 2ImpactShow what the policy means for members' lives
  3. 3PledgeAsk members to commit to the rally
  4. 4Turn outBring them to City Hall on the day

The arc of the mobilization messages.

03The result

The result: 200+ members at the Rally to Save Telework

One of the largest turnouts in the local's history.

More than 200 activists filled the streets around City Hall for the Rally to Save Telework, far beyond what organizers expected. Images of the rally spread on social media, amplifying the message further.

The local successfully defended the remote work policy for about 6,000 city employees.

Activists at the Rally to Save Telework
200+

One of the greatest turnouts in AFSCME Local 1624 history.

AFSCME Local 1624 results at a glance

AFSCME Local 1624 is the Austin, Texas local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Unions use text messaging for mobilization because members read texts within minutes.

AFSCME Local 1624 results at a glance
MeasureBeforeResult
Members represented—About 3,000
City employees covered by the policy—About 6,000
Activists at the rally—200+
OutcomePolicy under threatRemote work policy defended

How to run a program like AFSCME Local 1624’s

  1. Lead with urgencySay what is at risk and when the decision will be made.
  2. Make it personalExplain what the policy means for members' daily lives.
  3. Ask for a pledgeAsk members to reply to commit, so organizers can plan turnout.
  4. Remind on the daySend logistics and a final reminder before the rally.

The labor and membership program on mCommons covers every step, with SMS, MMS, RCS, and WhatsApp on one platform.

Powered by mCommons

What they use

What AFSCME Local 1624 ran on mCommons.

SMS, MMS, RCS, and WhatsApp on one platform, with mobile strategists who help plan, write, and run each campaign alongside your team.

See the programCompare the channels
  • Mobilization broadcasts
  • Pledge replies
  • Strategist-written campaigns

Take it with you

Get the AFSCME Local 1624 case study as a two-page PDF.

The results, the charts, and how they did it, in a format you can forward to your team or bring to a budget meeting.

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