Graphic Communicator photo by Herald Grandstaff

Organizing consultant Richard Bensinger makes a presentation to GCIU General Board members at their June meeting.

The GCIU received an "A" for its mid-term report card for the International union's efforts in organizing.

Organizing consultant Richard Bensinger advised GCIU General Board members at their June meeting that he was "impressed with the work the GCIU is doing" in organizing and that the International union is making significant headway at training members, establishing lead organizers, and winning elections.

Bensinger, who consults for several international unions about organizing, noted that the GCIU is "struggling in a good way" because of the intensity with which members, lead organizers, and interns are trained and given a sense of urgency.

He said he was "impressed" with GCIU Vice Pres. Duncan K. Brown and Organizing Coordinator Bert Haft for their skills and dedication to organizing. Brown chairs the General Board Organizing/Subsidy Committee and directs the International union's organizing efforts.

Regarding the International's organizing training, Bensinger said the three-day seminars and five-day advanced programs have been "excellent."

He noted that all participants show a lot of enthusiasm. He said they understand the need to organize and feel assured that the GCIU is deeply committed to working with them and their local unions. GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi, who attends the sessions, pledged his continued support.

Bensinger emphasized that the trainees should now take the next step to become lead organizers. As such, they can create a virtual army of volunteers who are eager and armed with the skills and determination to pass along their skills and abilities to other members.

He cautioned that members and leaders should not expect "instant" results because of all that is involved in organizing – ranging from determining a target shop to establishing a strong in-plant committee to keeping interest up to getting sufficient votes in a representation election to win. "There are no quick fixes or easy answers," he said.

Bensinger noted that successful organizing requires giving organizing top priority, coupled with dedicated efforts at all levels to constantly work on organizing.

He emphasized the importance of "quality – not quantity" – in making house calls on unorganized workers. Outsiders visiting plants can do more harm than good if they were not properly trained. He indicated that house calling by peer workers who are knowledgeable about the issues and can relate well with people can yield the most success.

Concerning the make-up of an in-plant committee, he suggested that several of the members should be converted from the anti-union side. When those former anti-union workers are convinced that union representation is needed, that carries a lot of weight with their co-workers and boosts organizing efforts.

It would be best, he indicated, if management could be convinced that it is in the company's best interests for its workers to be union members.

He also urged that, where contracts exist, strategic alliances be developed between unions and employers because union workers have higher standards, receive more training, and increase productivity.

Board member Mike R. Zajac, Toronto 500M president, suggested that, when a company announces that a plant is going to close, those statements should be passed along. His rationale was that if people fear that a company may be unstable, the stock value goes down and other companies may be more wary of making such threats.

Regarding challenges for unions, Bensinger said national politics in the U.S. are playing such a heavy-handed role that "the NLRB (normally the abbreviation for National Labor Relations Board) stands for 'No Labor Relations Board.'" No one at the General Board meeting so much as chuckled.

Bensinger, who despaired at the Republican-dominated make-up of the NLRB and its many anti-labor rulings, nonetheless, was optimistic that GCIU locals – with proper training and motivation – can organize non-union shops.

Concerning the Organizing/Subsidy Committee's report, Brown reported that a new organizing strategy manual has been circulated throughout the GCIU locals – with mainly positive responses.

Regarding an application to the AFL-CIO Organizing Department for a financial grant, Brown noted that the GCIU Organizing and Contract and Research departments have been working with the federation Organizing Department "to develop in-depth strategies in the area of chain plant organizing."

Brown noted that four organizing interns, who were enlisted from classes because they had shown talent for organizing, have been assisting in organizing campaigns.

Tedeschi observed after Bensinger gave his presentation that he "found it most assuring that our union-trained volunteers are being well received."

He also observed that, because of the pattern of shop closures, the GCIU "must be concentrating on larger cities, where the threat of closure is less."

Graphic Communicator photo by Herald Grandstaff

GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi makes a point during a GCIU General Board Organizing/Subsidy Committee meeting in June. From left are GCIU Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff, GB Education Committee chairman attending for his information; Toronto 500M Pres. Mike R. Zajac; organizing consultant Richard Bensinger; Philadelphia 14M Pres. Kurt Freeman; GCIU Organ- izing Coordinator Bert Haft; Richard J. Whitworth, executive assistant to the GCIU president; Detroit 2C Pres. David R. Jacobs; GCIU Vice Pres. Duncan K. Brown, committee chairman and director of GCIU organizing efforts; Los Angeles 388M Secy.-Treas. Fred W. Correll; and Tedeschi.