Covention promises to be big — and influential

Legislative Weekend moves to Seattle

Union counters contracting-out bid

Bills passed by Legislature and signed by Governor

Comparison of pension plan features

Spokane County used wrong procedure, arbitrator rules

Staff Rep. Jerry Gillming retires

Perhaps it's time for you to get involved

Perhaps it's time for you to get involved

By CHRIS DUGOVICH

Keeping your Union strong and vital is hard, sometimes tedious work that involves your everyday participation. Certainly the majority of our membership have never held a Union office, many have not attended a meeting, some may not have even opened this newspaper. However, whatever the activity or cause your Local, State Council or International Union embarks on, it happens only due to many individuals’ hard work and most importantly, their time.

Chris Dugovich
Council 2 President/Executive Director

The Union is the members, it’s not the Staff or even the elected executive board or officers. It’s an organization built on pitching in and participating, and in reality if you allow others to make the decisions, they just might make them in a manner that you strongly disagree with.

Traveling around the states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, and visiting Local Union meetings, it’s always safe to say that there’s a core group of individuals who take it upon themselves to make sure the work gets done. Whether it’s serving on a bargaining team, helping a fellow member handle a grievance, or organizing the Christmas party — they do it all. If you are one of these individuals give yourself a pat on the back! If you’re not — understand that it’s a very non-exclusive group in every Local Union that always welcomes newcomers to the group. If you’ve sometimes thought about maybe taking a more active role, don’t be bashful. Take the leap and pitch in! Your role and the time spent can be as large or as small as you choose. It can simply be attending next month’s meeting and taking part in the decisions made.

It’s interesting to me to see examples of individuals across the region who have started by simply attending an organizing meeting and over time were elected to be the Local Union President and serve on the state executive board. We even change minds! I know of one individual who worked against the Union in a representation election, only later to be very pro-union and serve on the state executive board.

For all of the members who take an active role, while at times it certainly presents its frustrations it also presents challenges that make it all worthwhile and at times a lot of fun.

The Union is you and your fellow members, and if you’ve got some time, and an interest, your Union certainly needs you!