October 9, 2005
Growing a High-Performance Organizing Union
Nearly 1,000 Machinists from all over North America gathered in Chicago yesterday to kick off the IAM Organizing Summit.
International President Tom Buffenbarger, who called on each and every participant to organize and help grow the Union, announced effective November 1, 2005 the Grand Lodge will place a one year moratorium on per capita taxes for each new member organized.
“We know just as the founders of this Union did, we need something bigger than any one of us. We need a union, and we need one damn big union if we’re going to succeed for our families and the future generations of North Americans,” said Buffenbarger.
In order to produce unique and effective strategies for organizing, the participants took part in a historic e-brainstorming session in which over 120 interconnected computers allowed members to simultaneously exchange a free flow of ideas on how to better organize new members.
Conference delegates also heard from best-selling author Harry Beckwith and IAM members who have helped lead successful organizing drives.
“The IAM has definitely made a difference for not only me, but others who have also had to fight to get proper representation in their workplace,” said Renell Manns, who played a pivotal role in organizing P&B Transport in Florida.
Other sessions allowed the participants the chance to take part in educational workshops covering a variety of topics, including bargaining to organize, tools and techniques for organizing, strategic targeting and positive message development.
The conference, which wraps up Friday, is a critical step in making the IAM a high performance organizing union.
“Today we have the activists, the leadership, the movers and shakers all sitting in one room. Look around because we need help from each and every one of you to organize and help grow this Union again,” said Buffenbarger.
