Mood:
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For various reasons, most CUPW members are not able to attend union meetings.
The members who go to union meetings are not first-class members with all the others classified as second-class members.
Dues-paying members still have a right to have their concerns heard. Their imput, feedback, and creative ideas should be encouraged, not discouraged.
There are many ways to encourage member imput on shop issues without going to union meetings. The following are a few suggestions:
- National and local web forums should be created to handle questions, suggestions, or opinions from fellow union members and executives.
- Questionaires and surveys concerning member's views on important issues should be sent through the mail and/or placed on a local or national website.
- A policy that any letter witten to an executive should be answered.
- Local discussion groups should be formed at work to discuss union issues with or without senior executives being present.
- A 1-800 number should be used for those who are shy about speaking up in front of others and for those without internet access.
I believe there is great strength in knowing where the majority is on any given issue. Everyone counts, and every opinion should be counted.
Political parties and news media survey the public often. Why not CUPW?