Solidarity Sunday: Does Your Local Have a Process?
Nick Saban's definition of greatness for an organization reads like chapter and verse of what a local union can and should be:
- Everybody has the same goal
- The rules are clearly defined
- Everybody is together in spirit
Saban famously calls it "The Process".
The Process is not "policies and procedures". The Process is about a profound sense of being. The wins take care of themselves when we clearly define our process, take care of each step and pay attention to details.
What is "The Process" for a Local Union? It is no different for a Local than it is for any other successful organization.
Saban defines The Process on 5 principles:
- Help them be more successful in life because they're involved with us.
We are not a glorified temp service, we are a union, built on principles of brotherhood and sisterhood. Everyone who comes in contact with our local should feel that; whether for a day or a lifetime, whether they join us or not. Imagine how different things could be if everyone who interacted with us left that interaction feeling touched, moved, and inspired. Are they better for having interacted with you?
- Respect the principles and values of the organization and respect each other.
Our Local unions are dynamic, ever changing and growing, with new members coming in and out every month. As great coaches do, local union leadership must consistently remind and reinforce those principles. We must constantly preach what we're about. In our union meetings, in our newsletters, in our day-to-day interactions, in our digital and social media, with people in the field. New members are swimming with information, and they may not be sure they are in the right organization. They must be constantly reminded how important they are to the future of the local, and must be consistently taught the principles that differentiate us from other organizations, and their employers. Do your members have a clearly defined understanding of what your local union is about?
- Be positive in how we go about our work, and set an example others can emulate.
Attitude is everything. If someone on your administrative staff is "good" at what they do, but they complain, sow seeds of discontent, and aren't living example of your process, get rid of them. If they aren't excited to get up every day, represent their members, and do it with a positive attitude, you will never change the culture. Do you have the right members with the right attitude on your team?
- Be accountable for your job.
Being accountable starts with a clear definition of the job, both for you and your staff members, then doing that job no matter what it takes. Make the tough calls. Have the difficult conversations. Do what you say you're going to do, when you say you're going to do it, to the best of your ability. Clearly defining our job roles also allows us to say "no" to things that fall out of that scope. The tendency to constantly take on new things rather than focus on becoming excellent at the job at hand erodes our ability to hold ourselves accountable…and how can we expect others to be accountable to do their jobs if we have no integrity with our own. Are you setting an example by holding yourself and your staff accountable?
- Work to be the best in our craft.
Our apprenticeship programs are the envy of the industry. In the field, we have only our labor and skill to sell, and we pride ourselves on being well-rounded craftsmen. That doesn't just happen. It must be passed down from Journeyman to apprentice, from co-worker to co-worker, from Business Manager to staff. When we are striving to be the best in the industry and we are more confident in our union body as the best craftsmen in the business, we improve our leverage power at the bargaining table. Are we striving to be the best in our industry?
Leaders Know Cost Effective Labor
Here is a recent video project Union Up produced featuring signatory contractors for a local union client. Brian Ahern runs ABEV Power Solutions, a new contractor who's found a niche in the electric vehicle charging station industry. Mickey Poe runs Action Electrical and Mechanical Contractors, a large contractor whose been around since 1945 with hundreds of employees focusing on manufacturing and commercial industry. Both Brian and Mickey came through the IBEW apprenticeship program and both are signatory contractors to the IBEW Local 613. They know that working with qualified skilled craftsmen is the pathway to prosperity.
