Coronavirus aka Covid-19 has been wreaking havoc on workplace schedules. Now even the National Labor Relations Board is being affected. The National Labor Relations Board issued a press release announcing the suspension of all elections, including mail ballot elections until April 3, 2020. Obviously, the delay in elections give employers an advantage, because they now have more time to hire union busters and run anti-union campaigns. Expect increased captive audience meetings, threats of shut-downs, and empty promises by management. Keep abreast of fast changing developments. If you have an election scheduled, reach out to the Regional Director in your area for further details. Good Luck!
Make a Great First Impression
Making a great first impression is so important, and it only takes a little more effort than a “good” first impression. It requires the same exact time, one to fifteen seconds depending whose research you believe. Smile more, be excited. Show more enthusiasm. Stand up straight and throw your shoulders back. No more wet noodle handshakes. No bone-crusher handshakes either. Give people your full, undivided attention. Look them right in the eye. Have your business cards with you at the ready.
Today is a good time to buy that fancy business card holder you’ve always wanted. It will protect your cards from bending and getting dirty. You might be surprised how many people forget to carry their cards. What’s the point of having a business card it it’s left back at the office? Get the one with your initials on it. You’re planning to stick around awhile right? Let the competition hold their cards together with a cheap rubber band, if they even remember to bring them.
Ask for Advice
Other union organizers have walked the path you’re on. Put those years of experience and training to work for you. Ask for advice on where to begin, what precautions to take, what to look for, and how to measure success. It can save the union money, and you a lot of time and effort. Sometimes we hesitate to ask peers for advice because we are concerned about appearing less competent. Another concern might be that the person will direct all your actions. The opposite is more likely. People are flattered when asked to share their expertise. Often, they’ll give you options and steer you toward resources you wouldn’t have found on your own. Remember, you’re not under any obligation to take their advice if it sounds like it won’t work.
What do you do when it isn’t clear who would have the answers you are looking for? Contact an organizer in a nearby local union or ask for assistance from your union headquarters. Research organizing articles and books specific to the subject. Send us an email. Perhaps your question could help others like yourself.
Know Your Numbers
How many elections did you win? What was the vote count? How many new members were brought in? What was the percentage of representation cards signed? These are the numbers that will tell you how things are going. Financial leaders on television are always rattling-off numbers. They know exactly what’s going on because they make a study of it. Business measures success by profit. Companies don’t wait until the end of the year to take measurement and neither should unions. Shareholders demand information quarterly. Three months is usually enough time to know if you’re headed toward success or into the weeds. Adopt the mentality that business shares. Change course when needed. Be prepared to report the numbers to members and your supervisor when asked.
Join Toastmasters
Communication is the key to successful union organizing. Members of Toastmaster’s practice public speaking, leadership, and active listening in a fun and supportive environment. After attending just one meeting, you’ll begin to notice speakers using “filler-words” in speeches. Words like, “so, uh, um, like, you know,” and others can become bad habits that negatively affect our ability to communicate effectively. Speakers who use fewer filler words appear more confident and well prepared. Consider joining Toastmasters International to elevate your own communication skills and network with like-minded individuals dedicated to self-improvement.
Find a Toastmasters International club near you: https://www.toastmasters.org
Master the Organizer Eval
Some unions are implementing a 25-point evaluation process to screen out unqualified applicants for union organizer positions. The general idea is to gauge one’s ability to motivate others to action. Even if you’ve already been organizing awhile, you might find yourself being assigned to attend as a follow-up. How you perform could affect the rest of your organizing career. Be on top of your game to get the highest score possible. Here are five things you can do to master the organizer eval.
- Be prepared to write a strategic organizing plan. Include such things as goals, timelines, benchmarks, issues, leaders, meetings, employee list, volunteer organizing committee, house calls, a target date for filing, handbills, mailings, emails, itemized expenses, etc.
- Take detailed notes before, during, and after each role play.
- Dress business casual. Look sharp and make a good first impression.
- Listen for clues during role play, and give each person a specific call to action.
- Get plenty of rest.
