Ten Rules to Get Members More Involved
Local unions can develop a strong and committed membership but the process takes time. There is no miracle that will get members to become more involved and active immediately; it takes hard and consistent work. Here are some ideas to begin the process. They are taken from some of our locals who have success in energizing their rank-and-file.

• Stop focusing on how many members come to the regular membership meeting. Think about what you can do to get members more involved in union activities. Once members are involved and loyal, they will come to the meetings, not the other way around.
• Take the time to communicate directly to members regularly about how they benefit from the union. Every time a grievance is settled make sure the members know about it. Use the bulletin board, talk about settlements in meetings or in the lunchroom, and put summaries of settlements (if appropriate) in your newsletter. This also applies to contract settlements. Use these opportunities as an educational lesson in why the union is important in the life of the member. But keep your information general by guarding your members’ identities and not criticizing company employees by name.
• Develop opportunities for members to socialize and get to know one another. Sports, picnics, dances, games, and potluck suppers with families can be done by members at low or no cost to the union treasury. These activities provide an opportunity for members to work with one another and enjoy the community of solidarity.
• Find the new members right away and welcome them. Shop stewards should welcome the new employee and invite them to sit down with experienced and loyal members at lunch. Make them feel part of the family immediately. Give them lots of time to ask questions. Invite them to a meeting, drive them, recognize them there and swear them in. Ask them to do something simple for the union. Do not let them learn about the union from the boss or your cynical or dissatisfied members.
• Ask members to do something for the union. Use their strengths. If someone is a good photographer, have him/her take pictures of a union event, use the pictures in a publication and give him/her credit. If they can decorate a cake, have them do it for a union function like a retirement party. Make it easy and give them public recognition. That is how you begin to build loyalty.
• Make the union visible at the job. Make sure the bulletin boards are clean and look good. Make sure the members know who the stewards are. Officers should visit the properties regularly, not just when there is a problem.
• Handle grievances quickly and effectively. Make sure your stewards are trained and motivated. Let the grievant know what is going on when there is a delay or if the case cannot be won.
• Seek input from your members. Locals often think of getting opinions at contract time when the bargaining committee circulates a survey. But there are many opportunities in between contract deadlines when members’ opinions would be useful for the local. For example, a short survey included in the newsletter asking some questions on how it could be improved would help keep the publication more in tune with its readers.
• Keep your newsletter member-oriented. Highlight your members’ activities with articles and pictures if you can include them. List life events such as births, marriages, graduations and anniversaries. Of course you need to include union news but highlight some of the human -interest stories. By doing so, you will encourage members to read the whole issue.
• Make your membership meetings more interesting. Invite guest speakers who can make short and interesting presentations. Show good short videos on topics that are interesting to members. Start the meeting on time and end on time. Keep it short. Make the room comfortable. Think about families and how they can be accommodated.

These are just a few ideas. The possibilities are endless. Remember what it was like when you started out in the union and think how that experience can be improved. It doesn’t take much but you must be consistent and make these changes a regular part of the local’s day-to-day activities.

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