Solidarity = Power: CWA Local 1033 Ramps Up Efforts to Strengthen Member Power

Recognizing that the first orientation with new hires on the job is one of the most critical times to welcome them into the union and give them the tools to get involved and help us grow, Local 1033 New Hire Orientation (NHO) Ambassadors are stepping up to strengthen their own skills and came together on March 12th to discuss best practices.

The NHO Ambassadors training focused on how to best engage and personally connect with new hires, focusing on three concepts:

1. Selling new members on the union vs. inspiring them to join and take part, and defining ourselves and our union
2. Using personal stories and communicating our shared identity through our own experiences and our shared history
3. Seeing the NHOs as the first in many engagements with the members, and how we can ensure that members stay engaged with their union

The group will reconvene in April to dig deeper into the training and their union story, as well as both the challenges and opportunities we have ahead of us.

Alongside the training, Local 1033 has held several Solidarity Days at different worksites over the past several weeks, with solid attendance and engagement from members at each location, including the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles and Law and Public Safety offices.

1033 leaders at both locations talked with members about Weingarten Rights, updates from their Healthcare Ombudsman, victories won in the most recently NJ State worker contract, the CWA dues structure, and more, to make sure that members have a solid understanding of their contract, their rights in the workplace, and the role of their union. 

Both stewards and members came away from the events energized and ready for their next event!