One of the biggest reasons for low participation in union business is the lack of participation in members interests by the local. Delays in returning phone calls, lack of presence on the shop floors and lack of access to key officers of the local leads to members losing interest of their own.
Additionally, location plays a huge part of participation. Typically, in 396, members from cerritos and San Gabriel are most likely to attend the meetings because they are closest to the union hall.
Back in 2002, we discussed (While I was a part of the H Adminstration) either building, or purchasing a building and making our own local Union Hall. In all the years since, its never happened. Relocating a new Local 396 Union Hall to a more centralized location would increase participation by UPSers and in coordination with Union activities (training and access to officers and agents) members would be more inclined to particpate.
Turned out, it was just talk.
If you want to get members involved, you have to have access, reliability and purpose.
Without all three, all you have are the members who take Union business personally and for personal gain.
The usual suspects are not the union, its the regular person who has to be attracted to the union world.
Convincing those people to participate is the key to turnout.
At a 396 meeting, the rows are filled with "raider nation" self proclaimed members and that is a huge turnoff to members who visit a meeting for the first time.
Its an ugly truth, but it has to be told.
TOS.