Why we need more people
7 July 2008
Having lots of volunteers willing to share our union roles means we are more inclusive, achieve more, and so are likely to grow and have more wins.
The importance of activists – a member who holds one or more of the 57 activist positions recorded on commix – has been shown repeatedly through surveys we have carried out, such as the Cranfield School of Management survey in 2001, our young members’ survey, and those conducted by other unions and the TUC. Right across these surveys members have consistently said how much they value their workplace reps.
So finding, training and supporting more activists is the number one priority in our national organising strategy. We know that people join and get active in our union because someone in their workplace talks to them.
Overall we have one activist for every 28.5 members. This is good, but we could do better, especially as this is only an average – the ratio is higher in some areas.
We have recently analysed our ratio of activists to members across our group structures (see graph). In our highest performing area, the Regional Development Agencies we have one activist for every 10 members, an exceptional achievement.
Other areas worthy of a special mention are the DCLG/Government Office group, Aviation and Forestry Commission groups.
What can you do to find more activists?
- Ask members and potential members in your workplace what they think about their employer or the union – and listen to their views
- Ask them how they could help out, for example by talking to colleagues or distributing union literature
- Encourage members who regularly attend union meetings to put themselves forward for the branch executive committee.
Activists as a % of membership
- RDAs - 10.2%
- DCLG - 9.4%
- Aviation - 7.7%
- Forestry Commission - 7.3%
- Prison Service - 6.4%
- CPS - 6.1%
- LSC - 6.1%
- Culture Sector - 5.8%
- DEFRA - 5.7%
- DFES - 5.6%
- MoJ - 5.1%
- Land registry - 4.3%
- PSg - 4.2%
- DTI - 4.0%
- Capita - 3.9%
- DoH - 3.6%
- DfT/DCLG/GO - 3.5%
- Scottish Executive - 3.4%
- NAW - 3.2%
- DFT - 3.1%
- HMRC - 3.0%
- EDS - 2.9%
- Commercial Sector - 2.8%
- DWP - 2.7%
- Met Police - 2.3%
- IPS - 2.3%
- Home Office - 2.3%
- ONS - 1.7%
- Siemens - 1.2%
- GCG - 1.0%
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10 July 2008
One of the best things I've ever done is getting involved with my union - if we tell people the positive aspects of becoming activists then we'll get more people involved.
Michael L