CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK Settig Up a Cotract Actio Network This is a guide for local uio reps who wat to set up a iteral actio etwork i their worksites. This etwork cosists of: The local uio represetative, At least oe member coordiator i each worksite, Member key commuicators at each worksite, ad Members The guide is divided ito the followig sectios: Layig the Groudwork Settig Up a Cotract Actio Network Assigig Roles: Local Uio Rep; Worksite Coordiator; Key Commuicator Mappig The Worksite Recruitig Members Gettig Members Ready: Sharig Iformatio; Commuicatig; Meetig with Cotract Actio Team; Creatig a Phoe or Text Tree; Face-to-Face Commuicatio Tips Sig-up sheets ad forms are located i the Take Away sectio. UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK 1
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK LAYING THE GROUNDWORK I preparig for cotract bargaiig, we must orgaize a effective etwork of iformed ad egaged members. Settig Up A Cotract Actio Network I cotract campaigs, the goal is to reach every member i a worksite through a etwork of member activists. This etwork is oe method for achievig our goals. I the sample etwork show below, the local uio represetative has set up a etwork i four worksites through four worksite coordiators. Each coordiator the cotacts their five key commuicators who, i tur, each cotact te co-workers. Each worksite i this sample has 56 members ad reaches 225 people, yet o oe has to cotact more tha te people. Oe local uio represetative cotacts four store coordiators. Four worksite coordiators each cotact five key commuicators. Twety key commuicators each cotact te co-workers. Network reaches 200 co-workers. 2 UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK Assigig Roles: Local Uio Rep, Worksite Coordiator, Key Commuicator Local Uio Rep: The role of the rep is critical durig bargaiig campaigs. Who kows better about the iteral structure of the store tha the uio represetative? To set up the worksite etwork each rep should: 1. Recruit a worksite coordiator for each store. 2. Create a cotact list of worksite coordiators. Iclude worksite locatios, home phoe, cell phoe, other cotact iformatio. NOTE: A blak copy of the cotact list of worksite coordiators is i the Take Away sectio. 3. Set up a off-site, face-to-face meetig with all the coordiators. 4. Idetify ad recruit members i the worksite who will be key commuicators. Worksite Coordiator: The worksite coordiator is the uio commuicatio poit perso at their job site. They have the overall resposibility of activatig the etwork i their store. The store coordiator may or may ot be a steward. Look for someoe who is respected by fellow uio members ad who is able to circulate i the store. Some resposibilities of the store coordiator iclude: 1. Idetify ad help recruit oe key commuicator for every te members. 2. Create a list of key commuicators. Iclude departmet, shift, home ad cell phoe umbers, e-mail address, ad the ames of the te members each is resposible for. 3. Discuss the resposibility of the key commuicators ad possible time lie of evets. 4. Keep workig o the commuicatio structure to improve it. 5. Give feedback from key commuicators to the uio rep. 6. Provide ideas ad idetify the issues that members eed more iformatio o to uderstad or take actio aroud. Key Commuicator: The role of the key commuicator is a importat part of the team ad their resposibilities are: 1. Maitai strog ad effective commuicatio with their assiged co-workers by havig face to face oe-o-oe coversatios. 2. Keep a list of the te co-workers they are resposible for cotactig. NOTE: A blak copy of the cotact list of members is i the Take Away sectio. UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK 3
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK 3. Pass o the uio message ad lear what is o members mids. Write dow their commets or cocers o the members commets sheet. NOTE: A blak copy of the members mommets sheet is i the Take Away sectio. 4. Help carry out collective actios ivolvig co-workers ad commuity allies. MAPPING THE WORKSITE Mappig is oe approach to buildig a etwork of egaged ad ivolved members. By tappig ito the atural social groups ad work areas, we ca idetify uio supporters ad member orgaizers to form the cotract actio team. To fid ad use the atural leaders who already exist i every workplace, maps should iclude the followig iformatio: 1. Iformatio o every worker: their ame, locatio, shift, job classificatio ad membership status. 2. Shifts ad locatios with ad without stewards or activists. 3. People who have take actio at the worksite. This might iclude iformatio such as who has wor a butto, siged up for ABC, or voluteered to take o more resposibility. How to Map Your Worksite 1. Diagram the workplace. Draw a outlie of the worksite, idicatig key areas where people are likely to be workig or socializig such as the frot ed, parkig lot, break room, or smokig areas. 2. Place a circle where every worker is usually statioed ad write i their ames. Idetify the activists, o-activists, ad ati-uio workers. Differet symbols or colors for each of these categories may be used. 3. Idicate stad out members. These might be ifluetial people, departmet heads, or iformal leaders. Sometimes they are stewards, ofte they are ot. 4. Fid the weak liks. Idetify areas where the etwork must make extra effort to brig all members o board with the strategy. This may iclude members who are shy as well as the areas where ew hires are placed. 5. Mark where maagers are usually statioed ad their typical path through the store. Mark those who are well liked, those who may be sympathetic (former members perhaps) ad those who are ati-uio. 4 UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK Usig the Map 1. Look at the map. The workplace map ca help to highlight how people are already orgaized ad how commuicatios aturally take place. 2. Fid atural leaders who already exist i every workplace. Note areas where you will eed to recruit more leadership as well as where your strogest leaders are. 3. Idetifyig key commuicators should ow be easy. Recogize that worker s ted to stick up for those who are close to them, ad ask those atural leaders to take o the resposibility of speakig with their social or work group. 4. Mappig is a ogoig process. Oce a map is established, worksite coordiators should be asked to help keep the map curret. NOTE: A diagram of the supermarket layout below is i the Take Away sectio. UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK 5
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK RECRUITING CONTRACT ACTION TEAM MEMBERS Ivolvig members is a key to buildig worksite etworks. Your team should reflect the make-up of the members. A good balace by departmet, shift, type of job, age, geder, race, ethic backgroud, seiority, etc., will esure that the team will be effective i reachig all members. Here are a few ways to recruit ew activists to become worksite coordiators ad key commuicators. 1. Ask people directly. It is ot eough to ask for voluteers through a uio ewsletter, website, or bulleti board. The local uio rep should go over lists of members ad idetify workers who might be willig to take o certai tasks. Wheever possible, someoe they kow ad respect at work should ask them to help. 2. Ivolve ew people. This is a good opportuity to idetify ad develop ew worksite activists ad to share the workload. Try to idetify ew member, to take o a few tasks, ot just the same few members who helped last time. 3. Assure recruits that they will have the backup ad support they eed. Members are more likely to agree to take o a task if it is ot too big ad if they feel they ll be supported. 3. Tap ito the atural social groups i the workplace. Fid out where people cogregate, who with, ad whe. Idetify uio supporters ad ask for their help first. This is called mappig ad there are ideas o how to map a grocery store at the ed of this sectio of the guide. 4. Look for leadership qualities. It is better to fid the right people ow tha it is to remove the wrog people later. GETTING MEMBERS READY Never uderestimate the power of our uio whe we talk to each other face-to-face at work. Sharig Iformatio Sharig iformatio about the issues we face together is a vital part of our campaig strategies. The reaso is simple: members are more willig to get ivolved i their uio cotract campaig if they uderstad the issues ad how their participatio cotributes to wiig a good cotract. We have to be able to talk about the issues, fid out what members questios ad cocers are, ad respod to them. This ca be doe through ewsletters, flyers, ad bulleti board otices but the most effective way to reach members ad get them ivolved is to talk with them idividually usig the oe-o-oe commuicatio etwork. 6 UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK Commuicatig Why is a oe-o-oe commuicatio importat? Because it persoalizes our uio ad helps members see the UFCW as their uio. Oe-o-oe commuicatio allows for every member to be cotacted ad educated o issues ad to have a opportuity to offer their ideas or ask questios. It meas that the uio leaders, staff, ad members ca talk with each other face-to-face ad oe at a time about importat issues ad, i the process, ecourage members to get ivolved. Meetig with Cotract Actio Team Direct cotact with local uio staff icreases members cofidece i their campaig ad gives uio leaders ad staff aother way to get a accurate readig of membership attitudes ad priorities. I additio to the rep s regular store visits, the rep should lead two importat meetigs at the oset of the cotract campaig oe with the worksite coordiators ad are with the key commuicators. Cotract Actio Team Meetigs Led by Uio Rep Meet with: Worksite Coordiators (WCs) Purpose: Opportuity for WCs to meet each other to go over the strategy of the campaig, the logistics of settig up a commuicatio etwork, to share ideas about types of activities members would participate i. Materials Distributed to WCs: 1. Timelie 2. Cotract Actio Team Network chart 3. Cotact list of key commuicators 4. Cotact list of members 5. Members commets 6. Worksite map 7. Flyers Locatio: Off worksite at coveiet locatio. Provide child care. Provide o-alcoholic driks or light sacks. Duratio: Allow 2 hours. UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK 7
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK Frequecy: Oce, at the begiig of the campaig. Meet with: Key Commuicators (KCs) Purpose: Outlie strategy of campaig. Trai KCs for oe-o-oe commuicatio. Check KCs access to the iteret. Materials distributed to SCs: 1. Campaig timelie 2. Cotract Actio Network chart 3. Cotact list of members 4. Members commets 5. Website flyer 6. Flyers Locatio: O worksite durig breaks or betwee shifts. Provide o-alcoholic driks or light sacks. Duratio: Allow 30 miutes Frequecy: Oce, at each worksite NOTE: All materials for each of these meetigs are available i the Take Away sectio of this guide. Throughout the campaig, uio reps should cotiue to keep i touch with members ot oly through store visits, but by phoe, e-mail, text messagig, prited materials. Phoe or Text Tree We ca call or text members to quickly commuicate a message, a actio, or ask a opiio of a high percetage of members. Phoe or text trees are most effective whe oe-o-oe cotacts have bee made i perso first, so workers kow the caller. Here s how to have a effective phoe or text tree as part of your commuicatio etwork: 1. Get accurate phoe or text umbers. Whe you collect telephoe umbers, ask What umber should we call or text you o if we have to get your immediate attetio? This will make the system more efficiet ad reduce frustratios. 2. Set up a phoe or text tree structure assigig ames to each caller ad recipiet. 3. Try out the system before a emergecy hits so you ca idetify ad resolve problem areas. 8 UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK E-Mail E-mail is a essetial part i buildig a iformed ad ivolved membership i the grocery store. Each member orgaizer should build their list of cotacts i the workplace ad iclude ames, telephoe umbers, home address, ad home e-mail. Always ask for a e-mail address. Prited Materials Throughout the bargaiig campaig, your local will likely create a umber of differet kids of prited materials such as, stickers, buttos, hadbills, pledge cards, postcards, door hagers, yard sigs ad picket sigs. Use UFCW logos, fots, ad colors throughout the campaig. UFCW members faces should be featured o every possible piece of material. The Worksite Coordiator should keep the uio bulleti board updated. Nothig shows the uio as out of touch as a bulleti board with outdated materials. A Cotract Actio team member may be assiged to keep all uio bulleti boards up to date. UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK 9
CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK Face-to-Face Commuicatio Tips Hearig what uio members are sayig will allow us to target our message, ed rumors ad to uderstad their areas of cocer durig the bargaiig campaig. 1. Decide whether it is best to approach a particular co-worker face-to-face or to get oe of their frieds to help you. With some people, ivolvig a fried makes them feel more comfortable ad also creates a positive kid of peer pressure. Other workers may ot feel comfortable talkig hoestly i frot of other people. 2. Explai the purpose of the coversatio. For example, iformatio about the campaig you eed to relay, a actio that ivolves their participatio, etc. 3. Give the co-worker a chace to ask questios or voice cocers. Istead of jumpig i to aswer each questio or objectio, ask aother questio so you ca lear more. For example, What s a reaso for that? or How would you like to see the schedule chaged? 4. Whe you do respod, emphasize your commo groud, ot your differeces. For example, if you are askig a co-worker to come to a demostratio ad she says, I d love to but I really do t have the time, do t respod with a lecture about uio solidarity. Istead, start with somethig like, I kow what you mea. I kow what it s like to maage your work hours ad take care of a family. 5. If your co-worker is cooperative, let them kow what they ca do to help. Ivite them to a meetig, ask them to cotribute ad talk to their frieds about our uio ad ask them to fid out more facts about a problem they metioed to you. 6. If your co-worker is ot supportive, leave the door ope for more discussio. Promise to get back to them with more iformatio o a problem they raised ad follow up o your promise. 7. If you do t kow the aswer to a questio, do t guess. Tell your co-worker you will try to get the aswer for them, or, if possible, get them to come with you to fid out from someoe who kows. 10 UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK
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Cotact List of Worksite Coordiators Uio Rep: A. Sample Albertso s 101 Home: 321.4567 Cell: 321.5678 Email: asample@yahoo.org 12 UFCW CONTRACT UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK ACTION TAKE NETWORK AWAY
Cotact List of Worksite Coordiators Worksite Coordiator: A. Sample Frot Ed, Day Home: 321.4567 Cell: 321.5678 Email: asample@yahoo.org UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK TAKE AWAY 13
Cotact List of Members Key Commuicator: A. Sample Frot Ed Home: 321.4567 Cell: 321.5678 Email: asample@yahoo.org 14 UFCW CONTRACT UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK ACTION TAKE NETWORK AWAY
Members Commets Key Commuicator: A. Sample Cotact Date/Time: 2/3/15, 10:00 a.m. Commets/Questios/Cocers: I loved the butto day actio. How ca I get my church ivolved? Cotact Date/Time: Commets/Questios/Cocers: Cotact Date/Time: Commets/Questios/Cocers: Cotact Date/Time: Commets/Questios/Cocers: Cotact Date/Time: Commets/Questios/Cocers: Cotact Date/Time: Commets/Questios/Cocers: Cotact Date/Time: Commets/Questios/Cocers: Cotact Date/Time: Commets/Questios/Cocers: UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK TAKE AWAY 15
Cotract Actio Network Phoe Tree Worksite Coordiator: Key Key Key Key Key Commuicator Commuicator Commuicator Commuicator Commuicator 16 UFCW CONTRACT UFCW CONTRACT ACTION NETWORK ACTION TAKE NETWORK AWAY