At a meeting of the Local 178 Organizing Committee yesterday, Local President Lisa Foust, accompanied by National Secretary Treasurer William D. Fenaughty and National Business Representative John Griffin, laid out an ambitious plan for growing membership in the coming weeks and months.
Located at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Northeast Maryland, Local 178 represents nearly 1500 professionals and nonprofessionals at the sprawling military post. With the help of the NFFE National Office, Local 178 plans on doubling its membership by summer’s end.
“This is going to be a very busy summer for us,” said Foust. “Our coworkers need a strong voice in the workplace, and it is up to us to get out there and show them how to get one.”
Among the many issues discussed at the meeting, effective and sustained communications with non-members emerged as the most important element of the plan. In response to this need, the committee decided to hold a town hall meeting on workplace issues for non-members, promote local accomplishments in the installation’s weekly newsletter, and publicize their accomplishments on the Local website, www.nffe.org/local178.
Earlier this month, the National Organizing Steering Committee, the body which drafted and approved NFFE’s new Organizing Strategic Plan, selected Local 178 as one of three targets for major organizing campaigns this year. In compliance with the Organizing Strategic Plan, the National Office is focusing its organizing resources on Locals that have shown a commitment to membership building. Major targets for this year, including Local 178, were chosen based on growth potential and plan participation.
“This is the beginning of something big for the installation,” said Griffin. “This is a proactive Local that is ready to fight for the hard-working men and women at APG.”
To learn more about the plan and get your Local involved, please visit https://www.nffe.org/ht/d/Forum/forumCategoryId/6235/pid/8694.