How members make union visible

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Don Craig invites attendees at his training programs to develop their own ideas on the subject he is discussing. Here are some of the ideas on making the union visible that emanated from discussion groups at the Northwest Regional Leadership Conference on Sept. 30:

• Members wearing green AFSCME t-shirts to show solidarity during contract negotiations on “dress-down” Saturdays. (20 percent wore them the first Saturday, 50 percent the second, and 92 percent the third — it worked!) — Loralee Armstrong, Council 2, Local 120, Tacoma, Wash.

• Members wearing green shirts on negotiation days. — Vivian Roberts, Council 28, Local 443, Olympia Wash. area.

• Wearing t-shirts from organizing meetings at the work site. — Vickie Sullivan, Council 75 Local 1995, Multnomah County, Ore.

• Members using an AFSCME “ad” as a screen saver on their computers. — Jay Shuman, Council 2, Local 492, Spokane County, Wash.

• Bulletin boards and coffee cups (with union logos). — Christina Witka, Council 75, Local 88, Multnomah County, Ore.

• Members of local’s Good and Welfare Committee visit sick or injured members, make personal calls to them, send flowers or cards to members (or family of deceased members). — Amie Swenson, Council 2, Local 1553, Spokane County, Wash.

• Internet Web site. — Wayne Withrow, Council 2, Local 120, Tacoma, Wash.