WHEREAS:
Our union’s power to be a positive force in the lives of our members and workers in general across the country is directly proportional to our union’s density; and
WHEREAS:
Our union’s ability to leverage its power and maximize our opportunities at the collective bargaining table, and at the statehouse, to make gains for workers is enhanced when we organize more members; and
WHEREAS:
One of the priorities of the AFSCME Strong campaign is internal organizing with a goal of recruiting new members in our existing units and to identify activists; and
WHEREAS:
In most bargaining units, the highest turnover is among new employees within the first 8 years of employment, and it is important that our union reach out to these new workers and ask them to join the union so that our union can remain strong; and
WHEREAS:
Building a relationship between new employees and their AFSCME union starts on the first day on the job, and new employees who are asked to join a union within the first 30 days at work are more likely not only to become members, but also become activists; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME created a New Employee Outreach (NEO) program as an effective approach to increase membership that involves a series of one-on-one meetings between new employees and current AFSCME members who have knowledge about their workplace, about our union, and about the benefits of union membership, that will facilitate strong relationships between new employees and our union; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME Ohio Council 8 recently participated in training for the NEO program and is eager to train current AFSCME union leaders and members to begin the one-on-one and follow-up meetings with new employees.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME and affiliates will continue to implement New Employee Outreach, or NEO, programs to build our strength through a series of one-on-one and follow-up meetings with new workers throughout the initial period of employment with a goal of creating personal and meaningful connections between our union and new workers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That one of the NEO program goals is seven contacts per new employee within the first 60 days of employment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME and affiliates will seek collective bargaining language and appropriate public policy (where possible) mandating union access to new employee orientations, time for individual meetings with new employees, and regularly updated lists of all employees and new hires; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That the International Union will support the training and development of council staff and local union leaders by relying on best practices identified through the AFSCME Strong campaign with the goal of creating effective NEO programs.
SUBMITTED BY:
John A. Lyall, President
Ann M. Sulfridge, Recording Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Council 8
Ohio