Page 45 - UFCW Union Steward Handbook

STEWARDS ORGANIZE

Talking with Co-Workers
l Introduction.

l Get the person’s attention, show the urgency of the discussion.
l Ask open-ended questions and listen. Find out what the person cares
about.
l People get involved because our union is linked to things they care
about—find out what the person wants to change and why.
l Connect with the person’s concerns.

l Share your own story and educate. Why did you decide to get
involved with our union? Try to show (through your story) why
having more people involved matters.

l Be sure to give specific examples of recent victories or current goals
that relate to the person’s issues and interests.

l Move the person to action. Explain why the person’s involvement
matters and ask them to participate in specific ways. People are
more likely to agree to taking on a particular task than to generally
“become more involved.”
l If the answer is no, find out why, and return to the issues mentioned
earlier.

l Be prepared to follow up with another action (upcoming meetings,
joining committees) this person can take, to become an active
member.

Ask Active Members to Help Recruit Others!
If a co-worker is already involved with our union, ask them to take the
next step and help you to recruit others.
Remembering that We Are “Our Union”
When members talk about our union do they say “we”? For example,
if management starts a new policy a member doesn’t like, do they say
“what are we going to do about it?” or, “what is our union going to do
about it?”
If members think of our union as “we,” then they view themselves as

UFCW UNION STEWARD HANDBOOK 43