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 Home Get Active Successful Organising
Sparkling success10 December 2006Scotland-based organising officers Ian Campbell and Susan Coutts have spent the last six months putting their academy skills into action. The two have visited stores across the country and have signed up new members and new reps by the score by using the union’s award-winning campaigns. “This is an excellent way of getting the union’s message across,” said Somerfield rep, Ian, 47. “We canvassed staff at the Morrisons store in Cambuslang, Glasgow and the majority highlighted the frequent verbal abuse from impatient customers so the Freedom From Fear campaign was perfect for this store. “There was also plenty of potential to pick up new members and reps and raise the profile of the union. So we set up a campaign stall with leaflets, literature and petitions to give abuse the red card. “Generally customers hadn’t realised the amount of verbal abuse shopworkers had to put up with. It was a very productive exercise.” Tesco rep Susan, 42 found the academy both ‘challenging’ and ‘rewarding’. “One of my success stories was the Sainsbury’s store in Darnley, Glasgow. Membership was very low and there were no active reps. I spoke to the store manager and arranged a date to visit. The results were very positive. I recruited three new reps as well as new members and the reps themselves are now busy organising within their stores. “And it’s the same story at my other targeted Tesco and Morrisons stores. Reps there are communicating with each other via email, text or telephone on a regular basis.” The academy gives you the chance to improve your knowledge, skills and self-confidence, said team leader Sandy Rowlands, 38, who has returned to work at the Bidston Moss Tesco Extra store in Birkenhead. “It’s been a fantastic experience and one I’d definitely recommend,” said Sandy, who has 12 years’ experience as a rep. “I visited a range of workplaces including Co-op, Argos and Ethel Austin across the North West region stretching from Lancashire to North Wales. The level of organisation varied from store to store. In some workplaces you were literally starting from scratch. While other stores had a membership base but a very poor level of organisation. Profiling the workplace helped me to identify membership gaps and make the most of my time. I handed out questionnaires to staff to find out what the issues were in-store. Members raised their concerns and some reps, who may have been inactive, did re-connect with the members. “Using the union’s campaigns to organise proved invaluable because staff can relate to real issues like supporting parents and carers, violence in the workplace and trading hours. “I ran a very successful ‘Lifelong Learning campaign roadshow at the Tesco Extra store in Warrington and within no time recruited 49 new members, three reps and four union learning reps. “The academy teaches you that it’s not just about recruiting. It’s about developing members and reps and supporting them.” Contact Details Media and Communications Department Ph: 0161 224 2804 Fax: 0161 249 2490 communications@usdaw.org.uk  Printer Friendly Page  Email to a Friend
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