Best of 2023: Cann addresses the AFGE’s focus on organizing success

As a continuation of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast “Best of 2023” coverage, today’s episode features a replay from June 21 featuring David Cann, Director of Organizing with the American Federation of Government Employees. He discussed the union’s organizing success in the first half of 2023 and the union’s plans to continue the trend going forward. Cann also discussed the organizing model used by the AFGE and why empowering Local Unions and members is the key to successful organizing.

In May, the AFGE had its largest month of growth over the past eight years. Despite losing nearly 3,500 members a month to retirement, the union employed a strategy to bring in more new members than it lost. Cann believed the union’s success was directly related to having a mobilized membership — something the AFGE achieved by giving their members a voice in their workplace.

Cann said the impact of the new organizing model was woven into the members' daily activities and was extended to the new members. Organizing conversations all look the same, despite every worker having a different answer for why they join a union, Cann added. By listening 80 percent of the time and talking only 20 percent of the time, organizers will find that workers will tell them why they want to join a union, and all the organizer has to do is point out that issue to the worker and add how unions allow them the opportunity to have a say in the issue. Cann found that workers struggled to say no when told and shown they would be given a voice in their workplace.

The AFGE also empowered Local Unions and members to actively organize in 2023. They have found this level of engagement shows potential new members the impact they can have in their workplace and leads to more successful organizing efforts. If organizers can give workers the desired voice in the workplace, unions will continue to grow, said Cann.

To hear more from this June 21 episode with Cann, listen to the episode above.