As the July 1 cutoff date to collect qualifying signatures drew near, Local 328 moved into overdrive with its outreach efforts. At OHSU the size of the facility and the number of workers seems daunting, but Curtis and Wellington had a system. Our stewards were involved because they re our first contact. They re in a position to get the word out to their members, says Curtis. It s a question of education, exposure, Wellington explains.
Stewards have more exposure to the issues because they re more active.
Local 328 mailed the petition to every member and asked them to get at least six signatures from friends, family and neighbors. There were site coordinators for each of the 40 buildings in the university complex. There were also area coordinators who made sure each shift was covered. And the stewards were on the front line for communication and involvement. Political Action Committee Chair Linda Johnson met with the stewards at their monthly meeting.