Using WhatsApp for Strike Communications

Using WhatsApp Group Chats for Strike Communications

In the event of a Strike, we are anticipating using WhatsApp to communicate in localized groups about events and picket lines. We are using WhatsApp as it offers the best balance of availability, compatibility, familiarity, and security for group chats.

WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect your chats with others on WhatsApp Messenger, meaning that only you and the person you’re communicating with can read or hear your messages. This process is automatic, so you don’t need to enable any special settings to secure your conversations.

Setting up WhatsApp

  1. Download and launch the app: Download WhatsApp Messenger for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. To open the app, tap the WhatsApp icon on your home screen.

  2. Register: Select Canada country from the drop-down list to add your country code, then enter your phone number in international phone number format. Tap Doneor Next, then tap Ok to receive your 6-digit registration code via SMS or phone call. To complete registration, enter your 6-digit code.

  3. Set up your profile: In your new profile, enter your name, and then tap Next. You can also add a profile photo.
  4. Allow access to contacts and photos: This is optional – contacts can be added to WhatsApp from your phone’s address book. We recommend that you DO NOT allow full access to Contacts and Photos.

  5. Securing the account: You do not need to add a passkey to your WhatsApp account; nor an e-mail address if you choose not to.

 

Creating a Message

  1. Start a chat: Tap the plus icon in the top right corner , then search for a contact to begin. Enter a message in the text field. To send photos or videos, tap next to the text field. Choose Camera to take a new photo or video or Gallery or Photo and Video Library to select an existing photo or video from your phone.

 

Creating a Group Message

  1. Create a group: You can create a group with up to 256 participants. Tap , then New group. Search for or select contacts to add to the group, then tap Next. Enter a group subject and tap Create.

    We recommend creating a group via a Link, and sending the Link out through the Bulk Message Centre on DMS Web.

If you’re a group admin, you can invite people to join a group by sharing a link with them. The admin can always Reset link to make the previous invite link invalid and create a new link.
  1. Open the WhatsApp group chat, then click the group subject.
    • Alternatively, click
      more options

      or

      menu

      in the top corner > Group info.

  2. Click Invite to group via link.
  3. Choose to Send link via WhatsApp or Copy link.
    • To reset the link, click Reset link > Reset link. Once an invite link has been reset, it’s not possible to restore the previous invite link.
Group Setting

When you’ve created the new Group, go into the Group Permissions and ensure that you have the settings you’d like applied on, such as allowing Members to add other Members.

 

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