Campaign to convert feepayers getting results
By DEBORAH A. MILES
In an effort to build more union power, PEF leaders have launched a membership drive campaign at the state Offices of Mental Health (OMH) and Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) to convert 1,300 feepayers in the PS&T bargaining unit to members.
“These feepayers have not been asked to enroll as PEF members or they have not been given a compelling reason to join the union,” said PEF Vice President Pat Baker and OMH labor-management chair. “Now is the time to change that.”
To reach the goal of maximizing the percentage of regular union members and increase union power, Baker said PEF developed a membership enrollment tool kit. It consists of promotional materials such as inscribed pens, stickers, membership fliers, plus informational fact sheets with talking points for division leaders.
Local leaders also meet individually with prospective members and send personal letters of encouragement, according to OMRDD L-M Chair Greg Case. “One-to-one communication is an effective tool,” he said.
“We are starting to see results. As of early February, more than 350 feepayers became members. People are becoming more and more aware of the governor’s budget issues and realize they need their union to protect their jobs and provide quality care to the patients,” Case said.
Baker said the membership campaign was launched at the 2004 PEF convention in Lake Placid and will run through July, in time to solidify membership numbers for the 2005 PEF convention.
Interested? Help us develop a feepayer conversation campaign. Call the PEF Mobilization Dept. at 1-800-342-4306 ext. 425 or email
MMesser@pef.org.
The
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