How popular are Union Plus programs among union members, and how successful are they in organizing and member-retention efforts?

A survey of 996 union leaders who ordered Union Plus materials found that many have used the materials in organizing efforts, result­ing in a net gain of over 20,000 new members. And, 65% report that their members had an overwhelmingly positive response to their union’s Union Plus programs.

This means that leaders who don’t use the benefits in organizing and recruitment efforts may be missing out when it comes to maintaining and increasing union mem­bership. Among the survey’s other findings: 

• Local leaders who organize with the benefits find the materials to be “somewhat to very useful” in attracting new members;
   
• Local leaders use the benefits in internal organizing AND they use the Union Plus programs to attract new members;
   
• Half of the leaders surveyed say they include information about the benefits in their local newsletters;
   
• Nearly 73% of respondents post Union Plus program information on shop-site bulletin boards, approximately 70% distribute benefits information at union meetings, close to 68% provide benefits information in response to member requests and 53% distribute the materials at work sites.

The bottom line: The numbers prove that the Union Plus programs really can help when it comes to recruiting and retaining members.