Avoid the Bystander Effect

November 1, 2026

Allistair Elliott  -  AFM Vice President from Canada

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done, and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

I have used this story, the source of which is unknown, as an illustration and call to action on a few occasions over the last few years. It’s a lighthearted story that has circled in workplaces and educational institutions, however, for us collectively, as union members, it carries a vital, urgent warning and a call to action.

Every edition of the International Musician provides updates of the challenges and victories from negotiating collective agreements to gain improved pay and working conditions. But if we fall into the trap of these four characters, we risk losing everything that our union, and the labor movement, has fought to build.

A union is not a third-party service provider. It is not an office in a distant building, nor is it just the person that answers the phone or responds to the email when there is a complaint, neither is it the staff and elected officials at the national or international office. The union is you! It is the collective power of working people standing together to support one another. When we assume Somebody will show up to the rally, that Anybody can fill out the survey, or the Everybody is already writing their elected government officials or voting in the upcoming election, we create a vacuum where Nobody acts.

Our collective bargaining power and workplace rights do not maintain themselves. They rely entirely on active engagement. When we don’t step up, management steps in. When we don’t speak up, our working conditions deteriorate. Relying on somebody else to do the hard yards weakens the collective front and leaves us all vulnerable.

We can’t afford to let Nobody do what Anybody could have done. It is time for Everybody to step up.

True solidarity requires action. Being a member means more than just paying dues—it means showing up, speaking up, and standing up. When we all speak up with the same collective message we are heard. When we all stand up together, we will be noticed. Small consistent actions by Everyone creates unstoppable momentum. Here are three things you can do to move from a passive bystander to an active participant, today:

Attend: Take an hour or two to attend your next local meeting and learn what is happening.

Speak: Talk to one or two colleagues this week about the current campaigns and advocacy efforts that are happening.

Act: Make sure you cast your vote in municipal, provincial, or union elections.

Don’t wait for Somebody else to protect your future. Take accountability to create action, support your colleagues, union campaigns, and advocacy, and let’s ensure that Everybody does the job that Anybody can do.

When a union launches a major campaign and call to action, the best success comes when members step up and get involved. That time is now.

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