Increasing Membership and Engagement
While Right-to-work laws have made it difficult for unions in right-to-work states to retain and increase membership there are certain things you can do as a steward to overcome these hurdles. We have comprised a list of effective ways to continue to grow our UFCW membership and open up engagement with new members.
Meet With New Hires During Training:
With each new hire we need to explain during new employee orientation the importance of our union to them. This is effective because we can show them the benefits of the union from their very first day at work. The best way to ensure this opportunity is for unions members to meet with all new hires on the clock during orientation.
Get All Members Actively Involved:
One of the best ways to get new members to sign up is to demonstrate to them how actively involved fellow workers are with the union. When workers can actually see members doing work on behalf of the union, they will know that their dues are being well-spent. When everyone works together to strengthen the union, the results can be impressive.
Speak Directly With Non-Members:
While a new-hire orientation may be a good starting point, it isn’t always enough to get everyone on board with membership. This is where one-on-one conversations between stewards and non-members comes in. Many new workers don’t know what a union is and what it does. They often have a lot of questions, but may be intimidated or shy about asking in a group orientation. By having one-on-one conversations with those that don’t join during orientation this allows their questions to be answered without the pressure of asking in front of the group.
Focus on Communicating the Benefits of Membership:
Employees who are not yet members may want to see proof of the work their dues will be paying for. Consider utilizing the New Member booklet and inserts to drive home the additional benefits only members are privy to.
Engage With the Community:
Organizing drives that speak to many members of the community like partnering with the Humane Society for a dog/cat food drive or with Dare to Care food bank to collect food donations. These partnerships help boost our union and show the importance of community engagement.
Right-to-work laws make our union more determined than ever to fight for our right to exist and to build up our power to benefit workers. Though we face more challenges than in non-right-to-work states, unions in right-to-work states can absolutely thrive.
