As a union manager, your leadership strategies have to stay in top form to keep your union on track. To achieve your goals and retain members, you should always be on the lookout for the best management strategies and solutions out there.
Use this guide to reflect on the new management practices you can try to improve your outcomes this year and beyond. Plus, we’ll explore how UnionWare can help you incorporate these tactics into your management strategy. Let’s explore how you can make this year your union’s best year yet.
1. Optimize your member communication model.
Why is this important?
Your union has the potential to majorly impact your members’ daily lives by changing their work environment. Thus, it’s critical that your union management team regularly communicates with your members. Keeping them in the loop about developments in the bargaining process or upcoming events makes them feel more involved and valued by the management team. Happy members are more likely to stay members in the long run.
How to optimize your member communication model:
Address member feedback.
UnionWare provides the infrastructure for both you and your members to discuss any feedback. The platform has a cases module to track messages, arbitrations, and complaints from members. You can even communicate with members through email and text blasts. Whichever type of outreach your members prefer, UnionWare has you covered.
Use multiple contact methods.
Outreach preferences can vary based on several factors, such as your members’ age, location, and work environment. During the onboarding process, ask your members if they prefer email or text messages. Then, make note of their answers in your union management software to ensure you’re always contacting them in the optimal format.
Maintain your data.
Your members’ lives are always changing, which means you have to keep up with them. For instance, some of your members might move over the course of a year, or they might change their minds about their outreach method of choice. Ensure you regularly update any outdated contact information and preferences by surveying your members. UnionWare has a survey module that allows you to poll your members and effortlessly update their profiles according to their survey answers.
2. Stay on top of collecting dues.
Why is this important?
Your dues are likely your union’s biggest revenue stream. If you stay on top of collecting your dues, they make a reliable funding source. To optimize your budget and achieve your goals, it’s crucial to ensure your members pay their dues in full and on time.
How to stay on top of collecting dues:
Use UPay.
UPay, UnionWare’s instant payment processing solution, allows you to effortlessly collect and store your member dues. If your union’s dues aren’t automatically deducted from your members’ paychecks, they can pay by inputting their credit card information into UPay’s secure payment processor. Then, this data syncs automatically with your membership profiles so that they accurately reflect their payment history. UnionWare’s Finances module also allows you to also track funds such as initiation fees, premiums, and contributions.
3. Provide professional development opportunities.
Why is this important?
While representation throughout the collective bargaining process is the most common union membership benefit, it’s not the only value you can provide your members. You can do more to boost their satisfaction by investing in your members’ success with internal professional development. Providing your members with a positive, enriching experience will increase your acquisition and retention rates.
How to provide professional development opportunities:
Lead professional development classes.
Perhaps the best way to enhance your members’ skills is by hosting comprehensive development classes. Ask your members which class topics they’d find valuable, whether they’re to hone soft or industry-specific skills. Then, choose your classes based on your union’s bandwidth and resources. Assign instructor roles and establish a meeting schedule for each chosen class. Try UnionWare’s Registration module to make the signup process as effortless as possible for your instructors and members.
Host professional development events.
Conferences and other work-related gatherings are a great option if your union doesn’t have the capacity to host classes on a regular basis. These events allow your members from different roles and experience levels to discuss skill advancement and other related topics. UnionWare’s Event Coordination module can optimize the entire event management process, from the earliest planning stages to the follow-up afterward. Plus, UnionWare’s Call Management module allows you to host conference calls virtually, letting members from anywhere call in and join the conversation.
How to get started with UnionWare
Now that you’ve seen all you can accomplish with UnionWare, you might be wondering how you get started. There are a few easy ways you can learn more about the software:
- Attend an informational webinar.
- Find out which features work best for you.
- Book a free demo.
The best way you can provide value to your members, achieve your goals, and boost efficiency is by using a comprehensive management platform. UnionWare is the leading union management software solution that’s equipped with UPay and the features you need to address any problem your organization faces, big or small.
