Join Our Fight as We Continue to Organize for a Stronger Union

Having a conversation with a nonmember coworker can be downright intimidating. Because of this intimidation, some find it frightening and daunting to ask them to stand with us. We have fought for the precious right to organize a union in our workplace. The fact is these nonmembers are working against our best interests. Some are loud and confrontational with anti-union rhetoric. They let everyone know just why they are not a member. While we are all paying attention and realizing the harm done by the boisterous one, the silent nonmember is as destructive, if not more.

They are silently working against everything we fight to achieve. The nonmember might try to say, “It’s not personal, I just [insert excuse here].” Do not drink the Kool-Aid; let them know it is absolutely personal! Every nonmember stands against our fight for a livable wage, health care for our families, and the benefits we enjoy.

There isn’t a neutral line. Don’t assume every coworker is a member. Workers in facilities where 100 percent of the workers are union members know that they are, and quite frankly, management knows this too. If your office is not 100 percent organized, now is a great time to remind the nonmembers they are working in a union environment, with pay and benefits that are only achieved by being union. There is no harm in asking your coworker next to you if they stand with you as a union member. You will either share common ground from that point forward or know that they are working against you. There is, however, injury in not inquiring.

Each year, at every level, leaders continue to put more effort into organizing. While some continue to push to be at the top in their category, there are some new additions to the list. During APWU National Conventions, there are some friendly challenges between locals to see who can improve the most. Awards are given to locals at the top of the game come National Convention time, and leading up to the convention it is always exciting to see the friendly, but serious, challenges between locals. This year was unique, as we were in the midst of an all-out organizing drive. However, due to production time, awards had to be completed before the conclusion of the drive. I would be remiss if did not point out that every local on this list increased their organizing percentage by the conclusion of the drive. Congratulations and thank you for all your hard work!