What is the Year-Round Organizing Program?
The Year-Round Organizing program provides locals with resources to adopt a year-round organizing model to increase membership. Through this program, member organizers and local leaders will receive rigorous training and direct coaching to develop and implement a year-round membership plan with assistance from ISTA staff. Each local will have an appointed ISTA UniServ Organizer as well as a member organizer (MO) mentor (a member organizer from a pervious cohort who excelled within the program). Both the UniServ Organizer and MO mentor will support the member organizers and the local in their efforts to recruit more members.
Local leaders will be tasked with identifying members within their local to serve as member organizers who will recruit potential members into the local. Recruitment strategies include union-led orientations for new hires, one-on-one conversations and building blitzes (campaigns that target identified buildings in an organized effort to have as many one-on-one conversations with potential members as possible).
Potential member organizers who would be a good fit may have the following qualities:
- Ability to speak to the value of union membership
- Strong conversational skills including active listening
- Organized and able to effectively document their work
If you are interested in working to increase your membership, you should highly consider applying.
Locals that have succeeded in this program have been ones who have leadership teams who are open to new ideas on membership and are willing to receive outside help. If you have questions about the Year-Round Organizing Program, ask your UD or contact Juli Davis for more information.
Frequently Asking Questions
How can I apply to participate in the program?
The application to participate in the Year-Round Organizing program is distributed in the fall semester of each school year. The application asks basic questions that allow staff to get to know your local. Following submitting an application, an interview process will occur, which provide locals with further information about the expectation of the program. Only one local leader from each local need apply.
How many Member Organizers will our local get?
Each local will be assigned a specific number of Member Organizers based on the recruitment goal for the program. The range is anywhere from two to six Member Organizers dependent on the size of your bargaining unit.
How can you tell if a local is ready to participate in the YRO program?
The YRO program is intended to strengthen and support an existing leadership structure, even if it is not fully developed. The focus is on enhancing the team’s capabilities through training and resources before shifting attention to recruitment efforts. Applicants should already have an executive team in place, at least one person serving as a membership chair, and building representatives at most of their worksites.
What is the time commitment to participation?
Each participant has a different time commitment to ensure the success of the program.
Member Organizers will receive a full job description and sign a contract that outlines all roles and responsibilities for the duration of the program. They are paid at $20/hour for approximately five hours of work a week. Weekly expectations fluctuate with the school calendar to account for breaks, etc.
Local leaders are expected to include Member Organizers/YRO updates in scheduled meetings to review grant progress, local membership plans and ensure that all elected and building representatives are included in the program’s ongoing work.
Member Organizers, Membership Chairs and President/Vice-President will be expected to attend in-person trainings tentatively scheduled for each May, July and September of the grant cycle. Trainings in May and September are anticipated to be a half and full day, while July trainings are typically scheduled for three days with travel time included on the first and last day.
Will I have to use my personal days to attend any training or blitzes?
No, participants will not need to use their own leave. The YRO program has funding to pay for Association leave time so any Member Organizer or local leader who attends any scheduled training or building visits during the school day can have a paid sub. As each local’s Association Day language, usage and procedures are different, staff will work with local leaders to determine how sub coverage will be reimbursed at the local level.
Who can I contact to get additional information?
If you have additional questions or would like to speak with a staff member you can reach out to UniServ Assistant Alison Jenson at ajenson@ista-in.org or UniServ Organizer & YRO Program Lead Juli Davis at jdavis@ista-in.org.