More than 500 new members sign up for Contactober
Telecoms & Financial Services November 10 2015New members have been flocking to join the CWU across the country as a result of the activities undertaken for Contactober.
In the North West, Bootle Financial Services branch was out in force to celebrate Halloween.
The branch set out its stall, in the rest area at Santander in Bootle. There were trick or treat bags with sweets plus a slice of cake for all members.
A popular attraction was a game of snakes and ladders, with multiple choice questions. The successful players, who got to 20, went forward into a draw for an IPad mini. And for those happy to get down and sticky there was the gunge bucket, where staff could reach in and pick out a ball. Balls with 666 on qualified for a chocolate or cosmetic.
The branch had certainly stockpiled the cake, with boxes piled high. There were also a number of tombstones around, marking successful initiatives taken by the branch in advancing the lot of the members.
“It is important to engage with young people and get new members,” said Corita O’Leary, who was handing out the cake. “What we are doing here makes the staff more aware of what the union does,” said Corita.
At the EE site in Merthyr Tydfil, the union signed up 70 new members over two days. The reps found that some staff were coming up to the stall on Monday then coming back to sign up on the Tuesday. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with how it went,” said Angie Prangel, “We are still getting feedback on the back of the days, so we hope more members will sign in the next few weeks.”
In the Midlands, reps from the ALGUS branch set up a stand outside the restaurant at the Santander site in Leicester. They handed out leaflets, goody bags and application forms to join the CWU.
Another initiative, involved a local beauty salon to come in to give skincare advice and free product samples, and there was a prize drawfor a skincare product gift bag for one lucky winner. “The event was very well attended, and it gave us the opportunity to remind members on site that it’s not just the bad things at work that their union can help them with – we can also bring positive elements to their workplace,” said Debbie Cort, the ALGUS national branch president.
Birmingham, Black Country and Worcester organised a recruitment event at the Midland Telephone Exchange, centring on the theme of “being in the union is a sweet deal.”
The organisers gave out our retro sweetie pots and CWU diaries.
“We had a great time meeting members new and old, and had somegood discussions about the “new” legal service “Unionline” which generated a great deal of interest,” said Vicki Cornelius, branch secretary at BirminghamBlack Country and Worcester. “We encouraged people to sign up to receive CWU Connects, the weekly CWU update and we are hopeful that this will generate some more activism.”
South East Anglia branch focused on the BT centre at Brentwood in Essex. The team set up in the canteen area, where there was a steadyflow of people, some just picking up information and materials, others with concerns over issues like grading and relocation.
Paul Jay’s grading complaint was typical. “We don’t know what is round the corner, the management are not that open and honest,” said Paul, who is also concerned about grades. “I’m a C1, I’ve done this job for a while, others are doing it on the same grade – why is my job not brought up to the grade it should be?”
In Truro, members were offered CWU goodies, non-members got information and an application form with a pen.
At Exeter, Debbie Hardy, branch chair, Julie Rich, rep, and Sara Barnicoat, field organiser ran a stall during lunchtime.
There were activities in the North East at all the EE sites; North Tyneside, Doxford Park and Darlington. Some1000 bags of information on the benefits of being in the CWU were handed out at the reception areas at the sites.
“On each occasion both members and non-members were invited to a further meeting which was well attended on all three occasions. The future plans include growing our membership at EE and developing our reps and active members through CWU Education and Learning,” said Jo Shaftoe, chairperson at Tyne and Wear branch.
Andy Kerr, deputy general secretary, was pleased with the results. “Our branches have made a sterling effort this month with over 500 new members, which goes to show that, just being within the workplace, talking to members, listening to their concerns, can produce results,” said Andy. “Its fantastic that our contact centre organising events are really building momentum and are becoming embedded into the fabric of our organising strategy.
“The increased branch focus and participation is clearly successful with the recruitment numbers, retention of our members and identification of new activists. Our regular presence within our contact centres has started to become a tradition and as a consequence this initiative is definitely here to stay.”