We are joined by Joshua Shrum(Branch 4374) and Alan Gegax(Branch 2502).
Bare Basics:
- Pro-Reform Candidate, with a slate.
- A campaign team of supporters and volunteers.
- Phone numbers and email addresses of members who will vote for you.
- Campaigning at the gates and in the shops
- Quality campaign literature mailed the day before the ballots are mailed out.
- At least one mailing to all members in the local
- Enough money to pay for mailings and your campaign.
- An organized phone and text bank to get out the vote.
- Focus on the supporters, ignore the hostile voters/members.
- Help members get replacement ballots, even if they won’t vote for you.
- Observe the vote count.
- Use an app like “WhatsApp” and “Discord” to keep the news/events/information flowing to the supporters.
- Get the supporters to meet you at the gate as you’re greeting other members. Those new faces will stop and talk to you if they recognize your supporter talking to you.
An Ideal Campaign:
- Start a least a year before nominations.
- Alliances with other groups in the branch so there is one united opposition slate.
- A group of supporters and volunteers that goes beyond the slate.
- Regular meetings of slate and core supporters.
- Campaigning by slate members and volunteers at each office.
- Blast emails and text messages to campaign supporters.
- A website/social media presence.
- A positive campaign platform.
- Flyers on targeted issues.
- A show of strength at the nominations meeting.
- All candidates take AL to campaign once the ballots go out.
- A budget and fundraising plan.
- Targeted mailings to specific groups.
- Get Out The Vote captains at each office/zone.
- Texting/Phone banking until they vote.
- Stickers and signs.
- Events/workshops.
Movie clip from:
'Mother Trucker: The Diana Kilmury Story
Diana Kilmury went from being the first woman heavy equipment operator in British Columbia Local 213, to the first woman Vice-President of the Teamsters. Diana helped build Teamsters for a Democratic Union in its early years, spoke up for members on the Teamster Convention floor, helped win the Right to Vote, and changed the Teamsters union for the better.
