Public and Commercial Services Union

One of the most effective ways to do this is by speaking to people face-to-face and many union reps already have experience of leafleting the public and speaking to them about our campaigns.

This briefing provides advice and guidance on things you should consider when leafleting the public if you have not undertaken this kind of activity before.

Prepare

• Make sure you have enough leaflets for the time you’re out leafleting, as a rough guide one person should be able to hand out about 100 flyers in 30 minutes.
• Chose a safe and busy spot to leaflet and try to arrange for others to come leafleting with you, possibly in shifts, to ensure you’re safe. If you end up leafleting alone make sure you tell someone you are going to a particular destination and ring them every hour or so and also when you leave the site.
• Be familiar with the subject area you’re leafleting about so you can speak to members of the public who may have questions. If you can’t answer their question there and then don’t worry, take down their details and get back to them, once you’ve checked the answer.
• Take some paper and a pen with you to take people’s contact details if they require more information or want to get more involved in our campaign.
• Bring waterproofs/and or warm clothes as you can get cold standing still for long periods of time.

Think about the law

Think about where you intend to leaflet and check if it’s a public place. Many places you would consider public are actually privately owned (shopping centres for instance) and you could be asked to move on. In shopping centres you may want to seek permission in advance by speaking to the centre management or you may just want to try it provided that you move on if you are asked to do so.

The Police may also move leafleters if they appear to be causing an obstruction. It is an offence to hand out leaflets that are threatening, abusive or insulting or those that are intended to stir up racial hatred.

The freeB.E.A.G.L.E.S.website offers more information on your rights to leaflet.

Members and reps are taking part in this kind of activity in their PCS capacity as a rep or member. Please share information on our campaign and what members of the public can do to support us but do not disclose any confidential information.

Think about the contents of any materials you hand out and also what you say to the press or members of the public and how you say it. For example, don’t hand out or be derogatory or disrespectful about colleagues or managers. Inappropriate comments might lead to disciplinary action against you by your employing department/agency. Always bear in mind the contents of your employing department/agency’s disciplinary policy and/or standards of behaviour policy.

If you are approached for comment by the media while you are leafleting, tell them about our campaign/issues and make it clear you are speaking in your capacity as a PCS rep. Refer them to the campaign pages of our site for more information and press office contact details.