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The new team has trained up more than 30 new member engagers, and over the next few months they'll be reaching out to colleagues on the phone, in the worksite and at events.
Vancouver (04 Oct. 2017) — Last fall, the Health Sciences Association of B.C. mobilizing team brought together a small group of the union's members who wanted to do something more.
The Member Engagement Team, as it came to be known, drew individuals from a range of professions. They spent a lot of time in a room full of white boards, sketching out ideas and eating terrible food (no dietitians involved last year). They spent a lot of time on the phone with members and a lot of time in worksites, checking in, listening to concerns, and handing out chocolates.
And, in the end, they had a lot of fun.
More HSABC/NUPGE member engagers trained to reach out to broader membership
This year, the engagers are ramping it up a little. The new team has trained up more than 30 new member engagers, and over the next few months they'll be reaching out to colleagues on the phone, in the worksite and at events. The primary focus is on collecting information about ongoing workload and staff shortage issues, but member engagers are also aiming to update contact lists, see how things are going, introduce members to each other and help build a bit of community across professional and worksite boundaries.
HSABC/NUPGE wants members to get involved. It's not a ton of work, and best of all you don't have to know the contract as well as the stewards do.
This fall, member engagers will be supporting HSABC/NUPGE outreach activities through regular membership phoning, worksite walkabouts and chapter visits, providing mentorship to stewards, hosting workshops, and training and welcoming new members to the union. Member engagers are supported with direct mentorship from an experienced engager and staff organizer along with training and skills-building opportunities through local labour and community education programs.
HSABC/NUPGE members interested in joining the mobilizer team need to contact Jonny Sopotiuk.