Autonomous Tenants Union

Tactics of the Autonomous Tenants Union

VOL. 1

      call-in campaign

      delegation

      flyering

      press conference

      postcards

      banner drop

      alderpeople

      Autonomous Tenants Union

By necessity, ATU’s work often centers around talking to tenants about their “rights” as given to them by the legal system. In our organizing, these rights are referred to as the shield. A shield can protect you, but it cannot win a fight for you. Your rights often can only protect you if you have access to a lawyer, and can fail you on a judge’s whim. You need something more—you need the sword. We offer this zine in hopes that the tools within will help folks to go on the offensive and fight back against their landlords. Because even when the law and the courts ul mately work to serve the landlord class, the power of tenants united will prevail.

When we fight, we win.

We cannot stress enough that this zine is incomplete. Only you can finish the story. This is because no tactic is effective without a strategy, and a strategy is not something we can offer. You must determine it on your own, based on your own situa on, your own local condi ons, and your own set of demands. Some tactics within reference laws, poli cal offices, and media specific to Chicago, and it may take research and crea vity to adapt them to your own local landscape. The tactics described within are stepping stones, and it is up to you to construct your path to victory.

Strategy: Set of choices determined to achieve an objec ve

Tactic: Steps taken, based on the choices made, to achieve an outcome

call-in campaign

When are they useful?

How to organize?

Offline:

Online:

Quick Tips

delegation

A group of people who gather for the purpose of delivering a message (spoken or unspoken) to the landlord’s home or office.

When are they useful?

How to organize?

Prep:

At the door:

flyering

When is it useful?

How to organize?

Messaging:

Leave a flyer on every building’s door...
...and on every windshield
of every car...
...but don t put them in mailboxes. It’s illegal!

press conference

When is it useful?

How to organize?

Planning:

Prep:

Messaging:

Working with the media

postcards

When is it useful?

How to organize?

Prep & Execution:

Limitations:

banner drop

When is it useful?

How to organize?

Prep & Execution:

alderpeople

When is it useful?

How to organize?

Pressuring elected officials

Research:

Be persistent!:

Autonomous Tenants Union

Autonomous Tenants Union is an all-volunteer collective committed to organizing for housing justice from below and to the left. As an independentcollective based in Chicago, we strategize together to defend and enforce our right to dignified housing. We believe housing is a human right, not a commodity! We fight for an end to all evictions, and for community control of housing through the building of popular power. If you would like to get involved or have any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out to us.

Email: housing.atu@gmail.com

Phone: 872.216.5288


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