Ask A Union Organizer: How do I unionize across multiple clinic locations?

Dear Ask a Union Organizer,

I work for a repro health provider with multiple locations across a large state. There is limited interaction between centers. How can we begin this work with that limitation?

— On The Go Organizer

Dear On The Go Organizer,

I can feel your overwhelm. I used to organize workers in Montana, so I know the feeling well. Luckily, technology really helps us cross miles more effectively than the snail mail of generations past.

Organizing across miles carries a lot of barriers, but it also holds some unique opportunities. Many locations means many opportunities to compare workplace locations, find discrepancies between job descriptions or wages, and identify who really makes the decisions about things like working conditions.

Set a goal to begin your campaign by recruiting just one dedicated person from each location. Find excuses to begin making friends. Maybe you have a project you could use their eyes on. Maybe they also have a dog. Your approach doesn’t have to be revolutionary—just friendly! Find any excuse to strike up a conversation.

Get Some Face Time

We have all integrated video chat into our daily interactions, which has allowed us to think more creatively about how we are connecting with our peers over a distance--these pathways of digital connection could be your first step. Zoom social gatherings where no one with hire or fire power is invited can be a great way to begin building relationships across borders. 

Slip Into Their DMs

Social media is another really low-pressure way to begin a relationship with a coworker who is at a different location. Send a casual email or DM to coworkers at the other locations, especially if you have an inkling that they might experience dissatisfaction with their job. Ask if they’d be keen to just chat some day and discuss work. Keep it vague, because it’s easy to tip your hand if you’re too eager to talk unions. Remember, you want to make friends without making any noise about why.

Start local

If the airwaves are too risky or you aren’t close enough with anyone at the other location to warrant an invite for a zoom cocktail, then consider focusing your energy on organizing your own workplace location before expanding to other locations. Eventually, you WILL recruit the coworker who holds a key to expanding your campaign—at least one coworker knows how to reach the other locations. Don’t think too many steps ahead—just take it one conversation at a time, and see what emerges.

Talk to the Travelers

Finding out which of your coworkers regularly travel between locations can be a helpful first-step. Chances are, there’s at least one or two people who “travel” in one way or another. They are often outreach coordinators, organizers, or bookkeepers. These traveling peers can help you make connections at other locations or eventually act as couriers for petitions that need to be signed and distributors of information that is too sensitive to send online. Engage them as leaders in your organizing committee.

Do Your Research

Keeping track of who-does-what-at-each-location will be critical to keeping your organizing drive organized. If you can recruit someone from the “statewide HQ” office to your organizing committee, they might have access to lists of employees at each location and their contact information. Find out which middle managers have people they supervise at more than one location. Do research about your organization’s corporate hierarchy. Begin visualizing the connections between people who have existing relationships at different locations. Ask your coworkers if they know anyone at another location and if they can introduce you. Nobody will begrudge you for wanting to build friendships!  

(note: HR has all the information and connections that you need, but your HR manager is likely to oppose unionization and should not be approached at the start of a campaign.)

Build Community

You can also simply ask your boss, “Why don’t we talk more with our coworkers at the other locations?” Suggest a meeting where employees can get to know each other and check in about how things are going from a broader, statewide perspective. Even if your boss is present for these meetings, it will give you a chance to forge personal relationships and build trust between coworkers. You could consider formally asking your statewide coordinators to spend more time building pathways of communications between locations and cc the whole organization on it. Tell them that you believe a cohesive movement requires communication between organizational branches. Ask your supervisors why you don’t spend more time working together as a unit. Suggest that your boss organize a statewide retreat once it’s safe to gather again.

How can your company build a foundation for your organizing? If you can change the culture of your organization in a direction that increases the connections between coworkers, then your union is gaining wins before it even exists.

Eventually, maybe consider planning a meet-up in a mutually desirable location. A cookout or camping trip. Getting your organizing committee long chunks of time together can increase your creativity when thinking about campaigns.

All that to say, start making connections and chatting with your co-workers. Sky's the limit!