Director of the Membership and Organization Department of the American Federation of Government Employees, David Cann, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the union’s best year for member growth in over a decade. Cann also talked about educating members to prevent anti-union attacks and what the plan is to continue last years organizing success.
In 2023 AFGE experienced a 5 percent growth, the largest year of growth in over a decade. Texas and Florida were two of the largest growing states after rallying together while under attack from legislators seeking to stamp out workers' rights, Cann said. The strategies, tactics and organizers' attitudes have led to national organizing success. Cann talked about how the pride displayed by members helped reinforce the importance of the work being done to protect federal employees.
Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina recently tried to decertify the union. Members rallied together to prevent the decertification and push back the anti-union efforts by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. An understanding of the protections and benefits unions provide and continuously educating the workforce on ways unions are helping workers are what contributed to the success of the AFGE in the vote, Cann said.
The new year brings new goals for organizing for the AFGE. One of the goals is to take in a number of new units in the United States and abroad. Cann discussed improving the density of membership, because with more members, the union can gain more bargaining power. Improving the techniques for remote organizing will be the key to reaching remote workers, Cann added.
For more on the AFGE’s organzing plans, please listen to the show above.