TWU COPE: Getting Your Members Registered
The International will provide you with a listing of your non-registered TWU members and a set of labels from the AFL-CIO. Before starting your local union registration drive, please call the TWU COPE Department. You will want to contact everyone on the list. Please keep in mind some of your TWU members listed as not registered might indeed be registered.
The AFL-CIO COPE Department does try to maintain a 100% accurate list, however there are several reasons why a member might be registered to VOTE and the COPE list does not reflect that:
- The member may be registered at an address different from the one listed in our COPE file.
- Some TWU members might work in one state and are registered to vote in another.
- Some TWU members use their nickname or a derivative on our files but register to vote in their legal name, e.g., William/Bill.
- Some TWU members change their address and registration every few years.
- Some women may use a married (or maiden) name on our lists but register and vote under their "other" name.
Like any American VOTER, TWU members are not going to register and vote just because union officials ask them to, or because it's "the right thing to do."
However, TWU members will participate in elections for "specific reasons...for specific concerns...and for their issues." As TWU officers you have to go to the member and find out what his/her priorities are...through the local's newsletter... a questionnaire...telephone calls or on a one-to-one basis!.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? Jobs? Health care? Job Security? Fair Trade laws? Education? Safety in the Workplace? Affordable child day care? Humane and ethical treatment of workers? Pension? Benefits for TWU members?
Click on the other subsections for other necessary tools to help run an effective political campaign.
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