“I always approach a new staff member on the day they start or at least within the first week,” Ngahine said, on her way of inviting new members to join.
“I have an information sheet that lists the things the union has achieved in our sector, and I give them that and a membership form. I go on to tell them the majority of staff are already members so they don’t feel like I’m trying to recruit them into a worthless club.
Ngahine likens union membership to security. “I always start by asking ‘do you have comprehensive insurance for your motor vehicle’? Then I say, ‘Why don’t you have it for your job’?”
“Some don’t understand what a union is, so it’s just an explanation of who we are and what we do. I give them hypotheticals that are relevant to their job. If they work in the office I say, ‘what if such and such happened’ and the same if they are a teacher.
Ngahine tells new staff that if you’re a member of your union, there’s support available should problams arise. “You just go to your rep,” she said.
Ngahine also approaches long-standing members of staff who have previously said ‘no’ to union membership.
“Sometimes with hindsight, they change their mind,” she said. “They might have witnessed unreasonable or unjust things happening in the workplace and realise it’s important to have formal support.”
Ngahine runs regular chapter meetings at her busy school and notes that union numbers tend to go up if there’s been a controversial event. “That’s the best time to have a meeting, when people are fired up about something,” she said.
One of Ngahine’s top tips for a rep is to always listen to the members. “When you’re the face of the union in your school, it’s important to support your colleagues,” she said.
“Whether they’re speaking to you about a union issue or just need to vent, they mustn’t feel dismissed over things that are important to them. If you don’t value your members, they won’t see value in the union.”
Ngahine says it’s important for all IEU reps to participate in union training, so they’re confident and knowledgeable.
She also recommends keeping in touch with the union office through talking to your organiser. “Having regular communication with your organiser and running things by them first can also help you deal with situations without ruffling feathers,” she said.
