Building the power we need to succeed
Success in everything we do… Bargaining better contracts Beating concessions Winning strikes electing politicians that support workers and unions Everything depends on this: Are the members on board ?
Our power is in our numbers So if local union leaders are only talking to their activists, and missing most of the rest of the members, our power will be as small as the numbers we’re talking to.
“Stronger Together” is a 3-Step tool to help you connect with the rest of your members. #1.) Assess your local – How many members are you reaching now? #2.) Set specific goals to increase your member outreach #3.) Plan the steps you’ll take to reach those goals
Please ease t tak ake e ou out you our T Tool ool Ki Kits • Inside you‘ll find: • Step # 1 “Evaluation” • Step # 2 “Setting goals” • Step # 3 “A Plan to reach your goals” • Worksheets to fill in at each step.
Do o thi his at you our ne r next Exec ecut utive M e Mee eeting ng! • Put Stronger Together on your next Executive Agenda • Schedule one hour for this agenda point • At the meeting, each Exec member needs a Tool Kit • Having been here today, you should volunteer to lead the discussion • GO through each step, filling in the workbooks, together.
Step ep #1 #1 Evaluate your local’s direct membership contact
St Step ep # 1 # 1: Eval aluation • Step #1 Evaluate how many of your members you are reaching and how you do it. • (Hint: Ask this question first) • Do we have an up-to-date, complete list of all members including name, home address, telephone # and email address? • If the answer is “ No ” then, by definition, you’re not reaching your members, and your first “ goal ” in Step #2 is “ get the list .” In Step #3, the first item in your “ plan ” is: Ask your National Rep to help you make a formal written request to the employer to get the list.
Step ep #2 #2 Set membership engagement goals
St Step ep #2 #2 - Se Setting G g Goal oals Stronger Together is about actually talking to our members. One of the best ways to do that is at your membership meeting, but that only works if the member comes to the meeting. That’s why your Step #2 Goals should include a target for increasing the number of members who attend your meetings. e.g. If you usually get 10 members, How about a goal of 20?
• IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FULLY SUCCEED AT STRONGER TOGETHER IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE # AND EMAIL OF ALL YOUR MEMBERS.
Step ep #3 #3 Create an internal commun- ication plan
Step # #3, I Internal al C Com ommunication Pl Plan • This “ Plan ” is a list of things you’ll do, and when, to reach your goals. • If your Step #2 goal is “ Double attendance at meetings ” the Communication Plan under Step #3 is the list of who does what, and when to meet that goal. • E.g. * The President sends a personal email invite to every member. * The other Executive members divide up the membership list and each Exec mbr speaks to, or calls, their list of 10 or 20 mbrs inviting them to the next meeting. * Twice a year, the Exec mails each member an update letter on issues affecting your local and a 6 month calendar with all the meeting dates and locations, including the annual “Pot-Luck-Dinner meeting.”
• Fred and Candace and the CUPE Ontario Executive Board and CUPE staff cannot do Stronger Together for you. • The Stronger Together tool kit only works if you and your Local Executive members actually sit down and use the kit as described. • If you do the three steps, and follow through, YOU WILL HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS .
• When we say Stronger Together ”together” means everybody. • And “ Everybody ” includes all CUPE’s racialized members. • If we want all of our members to be involved, then we need to take the first step by being serious about equality and anti-racism. • That’s why CUPE ON is asking members to challenge White Supremacy and why, internally, we’re launching AROAP, the Anti-Racism Organizational Action Plan. • When we say “ Together, ” we’re serious.
Stronger Together - Building the power we need to succeed
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