MEMBER POWER CLOSE TO HOME
The union may operate across a province, but members experience it where they work. That is why the Local cannot be merely an administrative branch. It must have real democratic life, real knowledge and real capacity to act.
THE LOCAL
The Local belongs to its membership.
A Chairperson chairs it. Officers perform particular jobs. Stewards represent members. But none of them replaces the Local itself.
When the meeting has authority to decide, the meeting is where that power lives.
OPEN →OFFICERS
Being elected gives a person responsibilities and defined authority.
It does not make the office-holder the owner of the body that elected them.
When a decision belongs to the Local, it must remain a Local decision.
OPEN →ORGANIZING
A strong Local should not exist only to respond when something has already gone wrong.
It should bring members together, identify common issues, communicate and build collective strength before bargaining, restructuring or conflict arrives.
OPEN →REPRESENTATION
Stewards and Local representatives need enough knowledge, support and practical authority to deal with problems effectively.
Provincial resources should strengthen Local capacity, not make every ordinary problem travel upward before anything can happen.
OPEN →COLLECTIVE ACTION
A strike, campaign or workplace action cannot be run only from headquarters.
Members need local organization, communication, logistics, leadership and mutual support.
OPEN →ELECTIONS
Local elections regularly return authority to the membership.
Members should know who represents them, how those people were elected and when their mandate returns for renewal.
OPEN →