- Insider Status: Have a special relationship with the government and are given access to officials and decision-makers as well as civil servants. Access to the corridor of power.
- Outsider Status: Don’t have links with the government but generate attention from the media by doing publicity students etc.
How:
- Research and publish reports: Evidence to support the group and to also inform the public
- Celebrity Spokesperson: Raise the profile of the group, to gain media attention and to attract more people from the fans of the celebrity.
- Digital Campaigns: Social media to publish information
- Go On Strike: To put pressure on those in power to force demands to be met by causing disruption.
- Publicity Stunts: Doing a stunt to gain media attention and to generate awareness
- Lobbying: Meeting with politicians to get their ideal decision to be made.
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Is The Internet Good For Pressure Groups:Yes:No:
Cheap way of spreading information and raising awareness
Too many pressure groups online so it's hard to stand out
Easier to organise events
Professional websites are needed and they are expensive and pressure groups rely on death
Easier to participate in pressure groups
‘Slacktivism’ actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement. So fewer people are active in pressure groups.
Why
Do People Join A Pressure Group:
- Representation: If views aren’t being demonstrated by a political party, often with iron tires such as gay rights
- Personal Beliefs: If the pressure groups reflect their beliefs, they share the same goal
- Participation: To get involved in a political issue by attending public campaigns.
- Material Benefits: To get something from joining by getting something out of it, doesn’t mean you’re passionate about the group.
- Need: They join because they have to, for job protection perhaps as it is mainly to achieve somethingCase Study - The RMT (National Union of Trains & Maritime)10 things they do:
- They protect and better the members pay – this is the key objective
- Shorter and safer working hours for drivers etc.
- To protect the defend the rights and conditions of all members
- Health and safety of members
- Legal cover for staff and everyone in that family.
A
Recent Case:
- Ticket offices shut which lead to concerns about passenger and staff safety so staff went on strike.
Successes:
- Government wanted staff to work more hours during the 2012 Olympics so the running of it was smooth but the workers wanted extra money for working extra hours – the government said no. Staff asked. Government said £250 extra, staff said no. Government offered £1000 – they accepted (depending on flexibility of how many hours worked etc.)
- It would have looked bad if the staff went on strike whilst the eyes of the world were on London
Failures:
- Ticket offices have been shut – staff went on strike and they failed to gain public support, lack of public sympathy and a court case was rejected.