This workshop supports groups to learn the March on the Boss tactic
Materials
Stationary, Role Cards (printed where possible), optional costumes for different roles.
What to do
Start with a discussion in a circle, ask the group:
- Think of a time when you’ve been pushed around by someone in power?
- Did you try to do anything about it?
- Who in your life has power over you?
We want the young people to understand that when you’re talking to a friend who has a similar amount of power to you, you can talk to them as equals and work things out. But it can be difficult to persuade someone who has more power than you to listen. The ‘March on the Boss’ tactic is one way to use collective action to make someone listen when they have more power than you.
Ask the group:
- Has someone in power, a teacher or parent, or leader, ever made you feel embarrassed or ashamed as a form of punishment?
- How did you feel?
Ask the group to think of some demands to bring to a “boss” In pairs or 3s:
- Is there an adult who you don’t agree with?
- Is there a teacher at school you don’t agree with?
- Is there a local business you don’t agree with?
Use pens and paper to write demands down
Bring the group back together and introduce the different roles involved in this tactic (print role cards so everyone can read along):
Opener/closer – You are the first and last person to speak. Once everyone has got as close to the boss as you can, you open by explaining who you are and why you’re there. Then you introduce the person who reads the demands. Once they’re finished you announce it’s time to go and lead everyone out (this person is in theory ‘chairing’ the role play)
Person who reads the demands – This is usually the ‘wronged’ person, a representative to explain the issue. Maybe you’re a student who’s been picked on by a teacher, or a tenant who’s been bullied by your letting agency. You get to read the demands because they’re yours.
Shusher (2 where possible) – Your jobs are to shush the boss and shush anyone else from their team who tries to speak. Politely hold up your hand and say shush.
Supporters (3 where possible) – You come in with the Shushers, opener/closer and the demand reader. You stand behind them and block other people from getting past.
Protestors (5 where possible) – You stand outside the door to the building/room holding signs and making noise so everyone on the street/in the corridor knows what’s going on. As everyone leaves you follow them as backup.
Boss – You sit on a chair trying to get some work done when you get marched on by a team of organised young people. You are very embarrassed.
Boss’ colleagues – You stand around the boss and try to interrupt the marchers when they come in. You get shushed by the shushers.
Allocate everyone a role – there needs to be at least 1 of each one, some can have more, as above. Let everyone have a chance to read their role and get ready. Help them out if they need help reading and understanding.
Introduce the person playing the boss and have them sit down on a chair and pretend to do some work. Their colleague/s can stand around them.
The protestors start protesting outside the space where the boss is
The rest of the team walk in on the boss and the shushers shush everyone.
The opener/closer opens by introducing the demand reader
The demand reader reads their demands while the shushers shush as necessary.
The closer closes by saying it is time to leave and leads everyone out. The protesters all cheer and leave the space. Ask the boss to share how they feel.
The group then can take it in turns to practice being in each role until everyone who wants to has had a go.
If you have time to do more than one practice, you could do some where the police show up and try to persuade you to leave by speaking to the protestors. To do this, introduce the following roles:
Protestor/communicator – You’re a protestor plus, if the police or other authority show up, you pass the message on to one of the supporters inside so they can prepare everyone.
Protestor/Police Liaison – You’re a protestor plus, if the police or other authority turn up, you speak to them and politely explain what you’re all doing in the slowest way possible. Your goal is to let everyone finish so you can all walk away as planned.
Discussion:
- When is the right time to use this tactic? (not with your friends, or equals)
- What other tactics would you try first?
- What are the benefits of working as a big group?
- Who might you try this tactic with?
