Union Issues

Don’t know where to start with Union Plus benefits? Here’s a few ways to get your members engaged: 

1. Pick Their Brains

Conduct a survey to find out your members' awareness of the national Union Plus benefits and to determine interest in local benefits.

2. Send A Letter

Use a "consumer benefits" mailing as a recruiting devise and as a way to encourage current members to participate in the Union Plus and local benefit programs. One local union mailed a letter to targeted workers that they were recruiting as well as to union members as part of their "new member kit." The letter afforded the union a unique opportunity to directly address consumer concerns and needs expressed by their members and potential members through the local benefits survey. You can find sample letters to use here.

3. Use "Guerilla" Marketing at the Workplace

Union members at one workplace, in response to company management forbidding them to wear any union insignias or apparel, wore buttons at the worksite that read: "I Am A Smart Consumer." When a co-worker asked why the union member was "A Smart Consumer," the union member's response was "I participate in our union's Union Plus benefits programs which saves my family hundreds of dollars each year." See how the benefits can save working family's money here.

4. Make House "Calls"

One local union, when faced with a decertification effort in their County Government Department, decided to use their members to place phone calls to the homes of public employee members. Additionally, the local decided to expand the benefits and services that they were developing by specifically including those that were a priority to the members in the unit.

5. Gotta Have a Gimmick

One employer informed the union that they believed the workers were stealing the band-aides provided to them by the company. As a result, the company decided that it would no longer provide band-aides for free. The union contacted Union Privilege and was provided with "Union Plus band-aide packets," which were distributed throughout the workplace with this note: "The union trusts the workers at this plant." It turned the tide of the campaign in the union's favor.

6. Everybody Loves Their Picture

A member benefits card is a practical and excellent recruitment tool. It can be simple or a little more complex. Some locals have a simple card with the union name and logo and list of benefits and phone numbers. One local went as far as including a photo for identification as well as information on their benefits. This is helpful for immigrant workers. The photo card can be cost efficient and very practical.

How popular are Union Plus programs among union members, and how successful are they in organizing and member-retention efforts?

A survey of 996 union leaders who ordered Union Plus materials found that many have used the materials in organizing efforts, resulting in a net gain of over 20,000 new members. And, 65% report that their members had an overwhelmingly positive response to their union's Union Plus programs.

This means that leaders who don't use the benefits in organizing and recruitment efforts may be missing out when it comes to maintaining and increasing union membership. Among the survey's other findings: 

• Local leaders who organize with the benefits find the materials to be "somewhat to very useful" in attracting new members; 
• Local leaders use the benefits in internal organizing AND they use the Union Plus programs to attract new members; 
• Half of the leaders surveyed say they include information about the benefits in their local newsletters; 

Nearly 73% of respondents post Union Plus program information on shop-site bulletin boards, approximately 70% distribute benefits information at union meetings, close to 68% provide benefits information in response to member requests and 53% distribute the materials at work sites.

The bottom line: The numbers prove that the Union Plus programs really can help when it comes to recruiting and retaining members.

Ken Jones, a pump and still operator at a Coke (fuel) plant and United Steelworkers (USW) Local 09-12136 member from Birmingham, AL, is one of two lucky $5,000 winners of the Union Plus “What Kind of Union Car Are You?” Labor Day Sweepstakes.

Jones, who claims that he never wins anything, could not have been more surprised to learn he won the prize money for simply completing a short quiz which revealed what his ideal union-made car personality type is. Nearly 25,000 sweepstakes entries were received between August 1 and September 5, and fortunately for Jones, the odds were in his favor.

“I follow Union Plus on Facebook since I’m a rep with my union and want to stay up-to-date with all the benefits, and that’s where I saw some information about the contest. I thought I wasn’t going to win, but just for kicks I entered,” he recalled.

Jones, who currently drives a union-made vehicle made in Topeka, Kansas, says he feels strongly about buying American-made and union-made. When he learned that his ideal union-made car personality is a Cadillac CTS, he had a comical reaction.

“Well, I thought it was kind of neat. Those cars are really sharp automobiles, and if I only had enough money to buy a Cadillac CTS, I certainly would get one!” he laughed. “It definitely matches my car type — the size of it, and the little bit of a sporty look to it.”

Due to his role with his local, Jones said he is very familiar with the benefit programs Union Plus offers. He plans to use the Mortgage and Auto Buying Programs in the future, and his oldest daughter was awarded a Union Plus $1,000 scholarship a couple of years ago. He also tells his fellow union members about opportunities to save with Union Plus.

“I tell the guys I work with that being a union member has many benefits with Union Plus. You have the wireless discounts, the Mortgage Program, discounts on tires, the insurance programs. There’s quite a long list. Not only does it pay to belong to be part of the union, but with this sweepstakes, it really pays to belong!” Jones said.

When asked about what he plans to do with the $5,000, Jones told Union Plus that he plans to spend some of it on his wife and daughters, and put the remainder into savings.

The prize money for this contest was provided by TrueCar, the provider of the Union Plus Auto Buying Service. Union members looking for a great deal on a vehicle save an average of $3,279 off MSRP and receive special rebates for buying union-made. Click here to learn more!